Pity Party, Anyone?
by Lynn Mosher
(Louisville, KY)
Oh, Pity Me!
When Karen asked that I write a column for this site, I was honored, humbled, and, well, scared! I have had two articles graciously published on this site; however, my main writing style is very different from those two articles.
I’m not highly educated nor do I have an extensive command of the English language. However, I have a willing heart, an obedient spirit, and a passion above all else to follow the Lord’s leading. I believe these are just the things the Lord watches for in His people, knowing they are usable for His glory and the benefit of others.
I wanted the Lord to use this column to speak to the hearts of others but I had no idea what I was going to write that would be suitable for a first column. Puzzlement set in…Oh, Lord, what in the world will I write?
That’s when another of God’s life lessons hit me, like the V-8 commercial, with a slap in the head!
An off-hand comment, an innocent remark with no ill intentions hidden behind it, was made to someone that referred to me and another person in regard to our writing abilities. The person making the comment is more knowledgeable than I am as to the nuts and bolts of grammar and punctuation, but what she said, or actually wrote, made me doubt my ability to write, which included this column.
How does this relate to you? Well, maybe you’re not a writer but you have another talent, gift, or ministry. What if you know you’re obeying the Father in whatever His calling might be for your life, would you let someone’s comment, whether mean or unintentional, knock your self-confidence out from under you?
What if someone’s off-handed remark, regarding your weight, your clothes, your hair, your speech, or whatever, caused you to doubt your self-esteem? Would you have a pity party?
I almost did.
The Lord makes me laugh so often…usually at myself. On the day of the comment, one of my devotionals was about Joseph. I laughed out loud when I read this by an anonymous writer, “Let us remember that if self-pity is allowed to set in, that is the end of us - until it is cast utterly from us.” Don’t you love it when the Lord plants those little tidbits just for your benefit?
The enemy was just about to tempt me into a full-blown pity party, with hats and streamers and balloons, even a big cake, with me as the clown! However, the Holy Spirit acted as a stop-gap. He reined in my emotions and tied them up at the hitching post so I didn’t gallop off in the wrong direction.
As Joseph said to his brothers, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done.” (Gen 50:20 NIV) And as Paul said, “What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Rom. 8:31 NIV)
Though the comment that was made had no malicious intent, there are those that do. So, when a comment of either kind is said to or about you, do you give in to the enemy and celebrate with him, or do you hand it over to the Lord, using it to better yourself and overcome it?
Don’t let any remark cause you to lose your self-esteem or self-confidence. Even if a comment is an innocent one, the enemy will try to use it to bring you down, if you agree with him. Believe in yourself as the Lord does.
I have said a prayer of blessing for the person making the comment, because she unwittingly sparked the birth of this column.
God tenderly teaches us valuable lessons in our everyday lives…if we will just watch, listen, and learn. And no matter what emotions the lesson produces, we remember what Isaiah said, “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You.” (Is. 26:3a NKJV)
This month: Whenever a negative remark comes your way, destroy it before it gets a foothold. And on the flipside, watch your remarks to others, as Paul said, “Be gentle with one another, sensitive.” (Eph. 4:32a Msg.)
Each month we will explore some segment of the Word and how to apply it to our lives. Will you join me next month? In the meantime, be blessed!
