Four sinners, four walls, four weeks (or more) of forced bonding. It’s bound that one of us is going to do time-out. Mama first, then the kiddos.
These days I easily run out of milk, yogurt and patience. And somehow, it’s harder than ever to replenish the fridge with dairy, and my heart with patience.
It’s work. It’s intentionality. It’s risky.
Extroverts tend to explode in messy situations. Introverts tend to withdraw into a pity-party. Both responses are ungodly.
How to escape your own party…
No matter what shoves us in the pit of discouragement: the magnified loneliness (for the singles), the constant blow-ups (for families), the financial scares, the health battles… we must get out. FAST.
The longer we settle in, the harder it will be to dig our way out.
- Don’t mistake self-analyses with self-pity. If you sinned: confess, renounce, and move on. Lingering in misery, will not bring you victory. “… the one who confesses and renounces them [sins] finds mercy.” Proverbs 28:13 NIV
- Switch focus from ‘me’ to ‘others’. I get it. Last thing you want to do is reach out. But, it’s the most result-giving action step. Romans 12:10 MSG puts it creatively “Be good friends who love deeply; practice playing second fiddle.” When we lick our wounds, we play first fiddle. Having the spotlight on us is selfish.
- Paying penitence is not the cure for pity-parties. Give grace to others, and yourself. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9 NIV
- Invite a friend to crash your party. Reach out for help, it doesn’t expose your weakness, only it reinforces what God already knew- needing each other. “Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself.” Galatians 6:1 NLT
- Before you fall in that pit, create an emergency plan to evacuate. Ask a friend/ pastor/ counselor for help if you’re not sure how to do that. “Where there is no counsel, the people fall; but in the multitude of counselors there is safety.” Proverbs 11:14
- Hide God’s Mind in yours. Learn verses that will fight ungodly thoughts. “Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly…” Colossians 3:16 NIV, or the MSG version “Let the Word of Christ—the Message—have the run of the house. Give it plenty of room in your lives.”
- Never underestimate the power of prayer. “And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.” Ephesians 6:18 NIV
- Keep your mind busy with beautiful and creative things. “And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.” Philippians 4:8 NLT
Four sinners, four walls, four weeks (or more) of forced bonding. It’s bound that one of us must set the tone for godliness. Mama first, then the kiddos.
I may easily run out on milk, but never will I run out on God’s sufficient grace to walk in His truth.
“No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.” 1 Corinthians 10:13 NIV