It is always amazing to me how life can be rolling along, things can be good and then, you can hite a huge pothole in the road. I have always thought about potholes as being a bad thing but today, I have a different perspective. I think it can be a major pothole that leaves me with a flat tire or it can be a reminder to slow down.
Today I had a choice to make. I had a pothole and I was sinking in it. I was being swallowed up by it kind of like sinking in quick sand. It was about a situation at work I have absolutely no control over. It does effect me but I think in it effecting me I am growing as a person.
I am a pleaser, definintely. I like to please poeple and like for people to be pleased with me. Both issues can be a problem but also good. There is a happy medium. Part of who God made me to be is a pleaser but more than a pleaser, an encourager. I love to encourage poeple. I love to be a part of their life in any way I can be. But, here is the issue. When I am trying to please people I am doing it on my own merit and I miss the blessings that God can provide. When I feel God's prompting to encourage people both me and the other person receive the blessing. So, the moral of this story, chat with God first, and please second.
I love how God kind of reminds us of a message. So, I went for a walk and just prayed about my situation at work. Do I confront this person or not? The answer was different than the one I received two weeks ago when I had to confront a different person (been a rough few weeks). The answer, just pray for her. "God, are you sure? I mean, you are teaching me how to confront and all. Maybe I should just ask her what her beef is with me." And the answer again was please don't question me. Just pray for her. She is hurting right now and searching for acceptance in the wrong places. Yes, you are receiving the brunt of the attack (a silent attack which in my opinion is the worse kind) but my grace and love for you are sufficient. Then I felt like I was suppose to go back and read my devotional again from Proverbs 31 ministries. It was all about having Faith. The verse was perfect, "Set your mind on things above, not on the things that are on earth" (Col 3:2). Not on things or people. I have to retrain my mind to look up to God when the tire is hitting a pothole instead of trying to push the car through it. One option has grace, the other is very difficult and energy zapping.
Another blessing was a post I was reading from Gillian Peabody. Her son died last fall from a brain tumor and her posts over the past few months have been precious. They have been a true pouring out of her heart and what God is teaching her. She is so honest. Her post today was about being tired and she equated it to a spiritual drowsiness. She needed to engage but didn't have the strength. Instead, she trusted God and he engaged for her. It reminded me that the same God who is crazy about Gillian is crazy about me. He loves me so much. That is the truth. That is what is important.
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