In my wise old age ...

It seems I’ll be 28 soon. At least that’s what mathematical logic tells me, as I was born in August of 1983. Fear of aging sneaks up on you and smacks you in the back of the head. I never worried about it until I turned 25, and only then because SOMEBODY, SOMEWHERE, decided it would be a great idea to write an article, which I read, stating that 25 is a defining year for a woman. To summarize, the author purported that goals not met by age 25 might never be reached. Preposterous as it was, that pseudo-factoid stuck.

Paying too much attention to the opinions and lives of others holds the power to ruin perfectly good situations.

It is easy, tempting even, to stack our shortcomings and disappointments against the accomplishments and blessings of others. In fact, when we foolishly do so, we develop justification to stop trying and an excuse for our sloth.

In her book “The True Measure of a Woman” Lisa Bevere talks about our visual of God’s storehouse of blessings and states that we often see the blessings of others as a decrease in God’s ability to bless us in similar fashion. She uses a personal example of her young family of six being in desperate need of a new vehicle. While she prayed about it, a family in her church with only one child was blessed with a larger vehicle. Lisa simply didn’t understand why her family was not blessed in the same way. They had more children AND worked in more ministries than that family! In consequence she became bitter, envious and angry.

“He is the Rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he.” Deuteronomy 32:4

How often have I failed to apply that scripture to my life? When we focus only on the negative, we are blind to the positive. That’s why we are commanded to praise God through our circumstances. If we focus on all He has already done, we are able to see what He is doing. I don’t believe God answers every prayer with a silver bullet. Sometimes He does, but most often He uses a process. God’s a multi-tasker. As He works in one area of our lives, why not challenge us, and consequently develop a strength or skill that we are in need of for the future?

In relation to focusing on the blessings of others instead of our own, just remember, we are commanded to love. At all times. Period.

“Rejoice with those who rejoice. Mourn with those who mourn.” Romans 12:15