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February 13, 2014
Hitting the Bottom |
"Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken." Psalm 55:22 (NIV)
Why is it that the hardest person for me to be honest with is sometimes myself?
I'm usually a happy, optimistic person. I want to look at life as half full. I like seeing the good in situations and in people.
I believe those are good qualities about me.
But sometimes the glass is half empty. And sometimes, I need to see the not-so-good in situations. Other times, I need to admit that there's not-so-good in people.
I don't need to dwell on it and get all negative. But I do need to allow myself the freedom to be honest. To process with honest thoughts and feelings and hurt.
Otherwise, I get this knotted feeling deep inside. And my smile on the outside doesn't match the sinkhole on the inside.
Am I the only crazy person who deals with this? I don't think so. Actually, I think there are a lot of people walking around smiling and sinking at the same time.
Have you ever had that dream where you are falling, falling, falling and then you gasp and wake up before you hit the ground?
When I was a small girl swapping playground wisdom between the swing set and the seesaw, I admitted to my friend I had that falling dream. A lot. She whispered, "You know it's a good thing you wake up before you hit the ground in your dream. Because if you didn't, you'd die."
And right then and there, I decided to never hit the ground. I decided to always be on guard to control that dream.
Crazy, right?
That's an exhausting way to sleep.
And it can be an exhausting way to live. This not ever hitting the ground. This not being honest that sometimes people and situations in life can be completely disappointing.
There is a bottom. Sometimes we hit it. Sometimes we can't wake up in time.
And while this gut honest realization about people and situations can feel devastating or like a setback, I think there's a better way to look at it.
Yes, maybe it's better to consider it an opportunity to grow in dependence on the Lord. An opportunity to embrace the freedom found in our key verse, Psalm 55:22, to bring my feelings to Him and to ask for His help.
Psalm 55:22 says, "Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken." So I took God at His Word.
As I prayed, I told God about my feelings in a recent situation. Lord, this stinks. It just does. The way this person treated me isn't good. What they said, it really hurt. Help!
In praying through that situation, God challenged me not just to talk with Him and be honest about my feelings. But also to be honest with the person who had hurt me. God challenged me to hit the bottom I had ever-so-carefully been avoiding.
So, I sat down with that person. I was honest. With myself and with them. I hit the bottom and I'm actually glad, because the internal sinkhole started to close.
And the best part? I didn't die!
Dear Lord, thank You for caring deeply about each detail of my life. Your ability to take my burdens upon Your shoulders is amazing. You are worthy to be praised! In Jesus' Name. Amen.
Related Resources:
If this devotion resonated with you, check out Lysa's best-selling book, Unglued. This book will help you to find peace in your most difficult relationships as you learn to be honest but kind when offended! Click here to purchase your copy.
Want to learn more about bringing your raw emotions before the Lord and reacting in a godly way? Consider Lysa's book, the Unglued Devotional: 60 Days to Imperfect Progress.Click here to purchase your copy.
Reflect and Respond:
Have you been putting on a smile when you feel everything but happy on the inside?
Bring all of your feelings and burdens to the Lord. Ask Him for direction and freedom as you hand over your control of the situation to Him.
Power Verse:
Isaiah 41:10, "... do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." (NIV)
© 2014 by Lysa TerKeurst. All rights reserved.
Proverbs 31 Ministries
630 Team Rd., Suite 100
Matthews, NC 28105
www.Proverbs31.org