I have been noticing a red-flag pattern lately. It’s ugly. It’s injuring. It’s hard to admit. And when I take a long hard look at it, I think it might say a lot more about me than it does about anyone else.
People are letting me down.
Saying no when they’re supposed to say yes.
Not following through on what they said they would do.
Acting not nice and making me pay the price.
Lying, thinking I don’t know.
Hurting, then walking away.
Promising and not delivering.
People are letting me down.
When I look at these five words, I see so much expectation. I see the words, “Please, be nice, don’t hurt me and give me what I need,” but what I also see, upon stepping back, is a small air of demand shining. In a way I’m saying: “People, get lifting me up!” Then: “God, why do you allow this to happen?”
God, though. God, he doesn’t answer yelling demands with a cowering spirit. He doesn’t bow down to our attacks for more to let our feelings establish his. He doesn’t retaliate based on questions. Instead, he compels our hearts to realize he is far less concerned about “should have’s” because Jesus “already has.” He already died to make us worthy. He has given us all we need. We are more than enough. Sturdy. Steady. Unwavering in hope.
In this, he doesn’t promise we “will have”
the best people can offer,
because we already have
the best he could
(which is more than enough).
Jesus never said:
People will always say yes, when they are supposed to say yes.
They will follow through on what they say they will do.
They will act nice and you will feel great.
No one will hurt you.
They won’t ever take from you.
So, perhaps it is time that I stop letting people, injuries and insults dethrone my God. Perhaps it is time that when they come, I let his Word reign. Perhaps it is time, I stand steady in truth, love and hope when I am inclined to move like a tossing punching bag.
I no longer want to take my eyes off of Jesus and place it on insults. Because when I do I move my hearts from the station that fills peace to one that sucks life. I drive to a mindset that will hurt me every time.
If I keep my eyes on God’s ways, he will give me the energy to move forward in them. To love the unlovable with them.
God knows, this is why he says:
Do not judge, so that you may not be judged. Mt. 7:1
Take the log out of your own eye to see clearly the speck in your neighbor’s. Mt. 7
Clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Col. 3:12
Do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God. Mic. 6:8
Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Mt. 11:28
A heart locked into the hole of God’s love and mercy will not fall down as easily. It will stay steady. It will remain effective. It will hold in hard times. It will open the door to his more, even when people treat us as less.
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Wow, “dethrone mean people”–this really touched me… While I don’t want to call anyone mean (we’ve all had bad days/months/years..), I recognize that people can indeed be acting “mean” or hurtful and it can be so discouraging/make-no-sense/totally bring me down.
I am learning that I can’t control everything, including people’s opinion of me (shucks, so late). And as nice and “me” as I can be, I will just totally rub some people the wrong way.
But let me take your advice and “dethrone” them, because I didn’t realize that I started to let them and their opinions dictate my internal domain.
Reminds me of David going to bring the food to his brothers…and one in particular really railed him with accusation and threw serious mean attacks on Davids heart motivations.
David stood firm in himself…he knew what he was doing there, and he didn’t let their comments throw him into a place of super self-doubt and woe-is-me grief.
No one belongs on the throne of my life but Jesus, and I’ve personally experienced He lets me sit with Him. (also a supporting verse, Rev 3:21)
Thanks again, RaRa to you from Holland!
Jasmine
Let’s dethrone people and rethrone God. I love your words Jasmine. Love the insight you provide above. I feel your wisdom oozing out of the cracks.
Mmmmm….good post, Kelly. Timely too. Had a really rough situation present itself last week. An irate mom w/emotions flaring had my child and me in the crosshairs. She was hurt. I understand. But it became a mess. Keep cheerleading ’cause girls like me need to hear the battle cry. xo
Kristi, I am sorry that this happened to you. It sounds like a hard thing to come up against. Knowing you, I bet you handled it beautifully and truly kept Jesus on his throne.
Kelly,
This post is SO timely for me. Struggling through a lot of hurt right now with family members. It’s so easy to get sucked into the drama of a vicious cycle that we take our eyes off of Jesus. I’ve had to step back from encouraging others on social media to deal with the urgency in my own family. But I refuse to let the enemy win. I refuse to stand still and let others’ choices paralyze me.
Thanks for all you do!
Lisa, praise God that you are taking a stand and standing up. You are strong in Christ Jesus.
Wow, great article, Kelly. How did you know I was in the middle of a “mean people” crisis? Oh yeah, it’s a God thing. 🙂 The down side of always giving people the benefit of the doubt, looking for the best in them, is that sometimes i expect too much. Thanks, KeIly. needed this.
Praise God that he speaks to our needs; he is faithful every time!