Canceling Out
By Dawn Mast
Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing. 1 Thessalonians 5:11 NKJV
It was winter, so we were trying to get the air just right in our house. Some rooms were too cold, others were too dry, and still others were too warm and moist. It was a struggle trying to get the right balance of temperature throughout the house and keep all the occupants cozy.
In one bedroom, we had a humidifier and in the basement, we had a dehumidifier. It occurred to me that the two were canceling each other out. One was working against the other.
People can do that to us sometimes. We are working with God and for God, then someone comes along and says or does something that seems to cancel out all that hard work.
Maybe you have worked so hard to overcome an addiction or to become something better than who you were told you’d be. Then someone tells you something untrue about your character or your abilities and you feel less than. All that hard work, prayer, and blessing from the Lord seems to have been wasted.
It’s easy to feel that people can cancel out the work that God has done in your life, but He is greater than the words or actions of people. It can be hard to imagine and even harder to live out, but it’s so true.
1 Timothy 6:6 tells us that, “Godliness with contentment is great gain.” Sometimes, when we feel like we are walking in righteousness and Truth, those around us try to pull us down and cancel out what we are doing. When that happens, we can be content that we are secure in God’s Truth as long as we are walking in His Way. We will have great gain and contentment when we stick with righteousness.
There will be times in life when we feel like the world is trying to cancel out what we are doing for God. In those times, it’s so good to see that the Lord knows what we need and He calls us to be content and to continue to walk in His Ways.
Discouragement will happen on our faith walk. It happened to Jesus. Even those close to Him, like Peter and Judas, betrayed Him. Standing strong in the face of adversity, fear, and betrayal feels lonely, but if we weather the storm we can gain contentment knowing that we’ve stood strong for the Lord.
It’s vital to surround ourselves with strong, godly influences. If we have people who will speak life into our Christian walk, we can be assured that our work for the Kingdom will not be canceled out, but will be well established for Christ. If you are feeling lonely in your walk with Christ today, and that the world is putting a kink in your Kingdom calling; PRAY. Boldly ask the Lord to bring you solid, faithful believers who will speak life to you as you live for Him. He will be faithful and will hear you when you ask Him.
Thank You, Heavenly Father, for the strong, faithful friendships in my life. They have made such a difference on my hardest days. Please show me how to be a friend to those who are lonely and hurting and feel the world is canceling out the plans You have for them. Especially, God, help me to be teachable when those close to me want to show me something that You want me to know. I believe that Your yoke is truly easy and Your burden is light. May we continue to walk faithfully in Your way and do Your will in the mighty Name of Jesus. Amen.
For more encouragement, visit Dawn at thatdawnedonme.wordpress.com
© 2021 by Dawn Mast. All rights reserved.
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