Today's Scripture
"And so, Lord, where do I put my hope? My only hope is in you." - (Psalm 39:7 NLT)
Thoughts for Today
Is someone close to you struggling with a life-controlling issue? Perhaps an addiction, destructive behavior, or even an unhealthy relationship?
When a spouse, child, parent, or other loved one is living in the grasp of a life-controlling problem, the effects of that addiction or dependency will spill over into the lives that surround them. Most of us have known the frustration of loving a person we cannot control or fix.
Dealing with the consequences of a loved one's problem is doubly difficult. Not only is it painful, but added to the pain is the pressure created by our inability to take charge and make things right.
Consider this …
Are you a "fixer"? When you see a problem of any kind, your mind starts searching for answers. If I do this or that, I can make it better. Some kinds of problems can be fixed that way - but not your loved one's life-controlling issues. As much as you may want to, you can't fix them.
Have you tried to fix the problem? To fix your loved one? Frustrating, isn't it? And that level of frustration can lead to overload . . . and all kinds of problems in your own life. We will discuss that more tomorrow. But for now, just dwell on this . .
There is hope.
Are you ready to say with the psalmist, "Lord, my only hope is in you"?
Father, I've tried and tried to fix this problem. It breaks my heart to watch my loved one go through this. And so many people are being hurt. Help me remember I can't fix it. Help me remember that there is hope - in you. In Jesus' name . . .
These thoughts were drawn from …Close—But Not Too Close by Dr. Jimmy Ray Lee. A complement to the Concerned Persons small group study, this booklet is written primarily for those who want to help someone close to them who is enslaved by the stronghold of a life-controlling issue. It is also designed to help someone who is suffering the consequences of a loved one's problem.
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