For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” Luke 14:11
Years ago, I was discussing with a friend of mine how I was upset about getting passed over and not receiving the credit I felt I was due. I commented on me and humility.
This friend giggled. “Missy,” they began, “you can’t even spell “humility.” Ouch. However, my friend had a point.
I just went through a similar scenario. Again, I am whining about not getting my due. My pat on the back. My recognition.
It is so easy to get caught up in the mentality. “Look at me and what I did!” A slippery slope indeed, one that I keep tumbling in to. As soon as I got angry and hurt, I realized that these feelings were not of a person following Jesus, and I began to pray. This went on for days. Finally, a brother in Christ came to me. He asked what was wrong because my anger and hurt was affecting everyone around me. He allowed me to talk it out and share how I was feeling. I told him I knew that these feeling were not pleasing to God, but no matter how much I prayed, it continued.
“Well, you are human. Not a super Christian. But you know that you are not doing what God wants so that in itself is good.”
Just being able, to be honest, and say how I was feeling out loud made me feel much better. The anger began to fade, and as the red tide receded, I began to realize I was praying for help, but I never acknowledged my sin or asked for forgiveness. I was focusing on the anger and hurt. That was all I was bringing to the cross.
It is one thing to realize that you have sinned, but it is another to confess it. I knew I was wrong, but in my spirit of pridefulness, I failed to admit it and deal directly with the sin. As soon as I admitted to God and myself my actual sin, not only the product, such as the emotions and feelings, the anger evaporated.
I think that I am guilty often of focusing on the emotions and feelings rather than getting directly to the root. Feelings and emotions are just that, mere feelings. But when you turn your focus to the root cause and confess it, that is where you find absolution and peace.
Typist for Jesus
Mustard Seeds, Modern Parables 