A Pity Party or a Walk

I remember my affliction and my wandering, the bitterness and the gall. I well remember them, and my soul is downcast within me. Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, “The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.” Lamentations 3:19-24

It comes down to this: At times, Life sucks. Sometimes it’s our own fault. You’ve made a bad choice and you sit in the mist of those consequences. Life at times is just rough. Sometimes those around us made a bad choice and those consequences had a ripple effect. It’s part of living in the broken world we live. What’s worse than suffering bad consequences? Dwell on them. Spend too much time thinking about the stuff and you will soon be depressed. You sit there and have a pity party for yourself.

I know life sucks. I’ve spent years dwelling on those awful things. Trust me; I have plenty to dwell on. I spent three years in a relationship I shouldn’t have. I had an abortion while in that relationship. I was treated very unfairly by my first two principals and forced out of my job because I didn’t fit the mold they had in mind. So I have a lot of afflictions. I caused some, others caused it for me. My soul has reason to be downcast. I’m sure you have spots in your life you could dwell on. That would downcast your soul. Your afflictions are probably just as numerous as mine.

So what do you do? Do you let life eat away at you? Do you let life make your soul downcast? Sure, go right ahead. Let life make you bitter. You have the right to make that choice. You’ll have to live with the consequences. It’s a miserable, bitter life. You’re welcome to live life in a pity party. I won’t join you. It’s the kind of life my sister leads. After about 6 years I no longer feel sorry for her. In fact, I’m thrilled my husband’s job moves around and the closest we’ll ever get is 2 hours. I don’t want to be around it. You are more than welcome to live life like that, but you might lose friends. They won’t want to be around you.

What’s the other choice? Go back and read the rest of that verse. Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, “The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.” God loves you. You can live in that love. His compassion never fails. Life will turn around. His mercies are new every morning. Now they don’t have a sign attached them that say I’m a mercy from God. You have to do your part and look for them. So I can dwell on the past, or I can roll over and look at the unmade half of my bed because my husband is at PT. I can dwell on the bad choices I’ve made, or I can get out of bed and let my pit bull mix dog out her kennel. I can have a pity party for one, or I can be thrilled that God is aware of me and still choices to bless me. I choice to see the mercies and blessing around me.

It’s hard to see them is one thing you are probably thinking. Seeing God’s love, compassion, mercy and faithfulness is something you have to learn to do. Smart small and it’ll grow to big amazing things. Not sure how to do that, ask God. It’s a lesson He’s willing to teach you. In fact, it’s a lesson He wants to teach you. I can tell you it easier when God helps you learn how to do it. Soon you won’t need His help to see how great your life really is.

So make your choice. Do you want a table for one for your pity party because soon, that’s all that will be at your party or would you like to go for a walk with Father, so He can revile His love, compassion, mercy and faithfulness. You might be surprised at who joins on this walk. I was. Remember though you have to live with your choice. The best part if you found you made the wrong one, it’s not too late to change it.