A Way of Escape
"No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it" (1 Corinthians 10:13).
"We all blow it some days." Recently, someone identified with the negative attitude I expressed about myself in my blog. And I guess my words exposed my feelings of isolation and negative thoughts. I really appreciated this friend's comment—it made me feel like I wasn't alone in my struggle.
Sure—we do all "blow it some days." And when someone else identifies with my weaknesses, that often makes me feel a little better for awhile. But even though this word of encouragement from a friend helped me temporarily, I needed more than sympathy to climb out of my pit of despair.
So, how did I escape this trap of "stinkin' thinkin'? God provided a way of escape as I began to focus on my blessings!
I want to write a little more about this tactic for overcoming negative thoughts in my next few blogs. But I'd also like to hear from you on this issue. So, feel free to post your comments, too.
"We all blow it some days." Recently, someone identified with the negative attitude I expressed about myself in my blog. And I guess my words exposed my feelings of isolation and negative thoughts. I really appreciated this friend's comment—it made me feel like I wasn't alone in my struggle.
Sure—we do all "blow it some days." And when someone else identifies with my weaknesses, that often makes me feel a little better for awhile. But even though this word of encouragement from a friend helped me temporarily, I needed more than sympathy to climb out of my pit of despair.
So, how did I escape this trap of "stinkin' thinkin'? God provided a way of escape as I began to focus on my blessings!
I want to write a little more about this tactic for overcoming negative thoughts in my next few blogs. But I'd also like to hear from you on this issue. So, feel free to post your comments, too.
Focusing on what I have, instead of what I would like to have, often refocuses my attention on what is really important to me. When I consider what others have, I waste my time, simply knowing that I would never want to exchange places with them, and that the only way I could experience their successes is to also share in their failures. And I know instinctively after watching friends and family over the years that most of them are careful not to allow others to peek into their worlds to pages and places where they were or are disappointed. For example, if I look at the size of my home and my neighborhood, and fell "I could have done better"--my second thought, which allows some balance to my flirting with feelings of failure or inadequacy, alway is "I wonder what they had to sacrifice to have such a beautiful home?" I then presume it was working long and hard, or sacrificing, or inheritance, after losing a loved one. None of those options are blessings, in themselves. However, coming to the conclusion that I am blessed by what I have, instead of having to constantly believe I should have done more, is a far more healthy attitude for me to go to sleep on each night. I am blessed beyond 99.9% of the rest of humanity. What else could I possibly want from life? THe Bible says "blessings and curses both come from the same mouth". I would hope to be remembered by my family in years to come as one who blessed them with an attitude of support and love, instead of selfishness and focusing on what makes me feel good.
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Thanks for your insight. If could just remember to focus on "what I have" and not on what "I would like to have," I know that I would save myself and everyone around me a lot of grief. Blessings to you!
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Karen, I agree that it's important to remember our blessings when our thoughts "go South." And, I've also found that singing a praise song when I start to have "stinkin thinkin" helps me focus on God's ability in any situation.
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Yes, what a great reminder! Just turning on some praise music, when I don't "feel" like singing, lifts me out of the pits. Thanks for your comment.
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