Does that irritate anyone else? When you are going through a difficult time and someone says "when life hands you lemons, make lemonade". I understand the concept and the heart of the one trying to encourage me, but for some reason, it tends to irritate me. Is it because I feel that they are not really sympathetic or that maybe they are being sarcastic?
What would I rather they say to me? The last things I want to hear are: "I know exactly how you feel"; or "you should not feel that way"; or "well, let me tell you what happened to me". Funny how such insignificant responses can bring up old feelings of worthlessness inside of me. I have learned to recognize and fight those feelings and remind myself who I am, a Daughter of the Most High, a Child of God, and remember that He does care about my every need and feeling. We often think of God as being so big and great, looking over us like little ants running around on the earth as a frantic mass of humanity, and we forget that He knows us personally.
Psalm 139:2-4…You know when I sit down and when I rise up; You understand my thought from afar. You scrutinize my path and my lying down, And are intimately acquainted with all my ways. Even before there is a word on my tongue, Behold, O LORD, You know it all.
I cannot tell you how much peace and comfort that gives me. He really does care about the things I struggle with, even if no one else does. He never says, well, guess you should just make lemonade, or I think you should just get over it and move on. He reminds me who He is and who I am, and He loves me through it. He patiently and lovingly holds my hand, gives me advice through His Word, and leads me to something better.
How thankful I am for the love and grace of my Heavenly Father! The knowledge of who He is and how He feels about me gives me strength when I feel weak. It gives me courage to move on when I feel defeated. And it gives me the desire to stay close to Him.
What would I rather they say to me? The last things I want to hear are: "I know exactly how you feel"; or "you should not feel that way"; or "well, let me tell you what happened to me". Funny how such insignificant responses can bring up old feelings of worthlessness inside of me. I have learned to recognize and fight those feelings and remind myself who I am, a Daughter of the Most High, a Child of God, and remember that He does care about my every need and feeling. We often think of God as being so big and great, looking over us like little ants running around on the earth as a frantic mass of humanity, and we forget that He knows us personally.
Psalm 139:2-4…You know when I sit down and when I rise up; You understand my thought from afar. You scrutinize my path and my lying down, And are intimately acquainted with all my ways. Even before there is a word on my tongue, Behold, O LORD, You know it all.
I cannot tell you how much peace and comfort that gives me. He really does care about the things I struggle with, even if no one else does. He never says, well, guess you should just make lemonade, or I think you should just get over it and move on. He reminds me who He is and who I am, and He loves me through it. He patiently and lovingly holds my hand, gives me advice through His Word, and leads me to something better.
How thankful I am for the love and grace of my Heavenly Father! The knowledge of who He is and how He feels about me gives me strength when I feel weak. It gives me courage to move on when I feel defeated. And it gives me the desire to stay close to Him.