How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!
Romans 10:15
I dreaded the ring of my door. The steps to mailbox were laden with worry. We were embroiled in a protracted legal battle over the custody terms of my divorce. All the mailman seemed to bring in those days was bad news.
I'd been served.
I was newly married, expecting my third child and staying at home for the first time in my life. I had every reason to rejoice but instead worry wrapped my days. I just needed some good news.
In the course of life we all encounter difficult people. You know the ones I mean. They make you want to run in the other direction when you see them coming your way. They never have anything positive to say. Their sky is perpetually falling and interaction with them is consistently draining. They are like walking legal papers - nothing good is ever written on them.
We get served.
Slowly Scott and I began to realize we couldn't talk, maneuver or negotiate our way out of our situation. Desperation drove us to our knees. We began to pray out loud together every morning and every night for God's heart towards those who opposed us and God's deliverance from a situation we were powerless to fix.
We reached out to the One who came to serve...
Have you ever watched a pro tennis player in person or on TV? Their serve is so powerful it is difficult to even return.
An adored child who leaves you physically or emotionally.
Hurtful words that leave you speechless.
An insurmountable financial loss.
Legal papers. Irritable people. Attacks on our character. Unforeseen circumstances. Question is what do we serve up in response?
How beautiful are the feet who bring good news...
A legal battle is an opportunity to show mercy.
Irritable people give us a chance to love expecting nothing in return.
Attacks on our character give us practice at forgiveness.
Unforeseen circumstances develop abiding trust in God.
Have you been served recently? How will you respond?
Forgiveness is hard but worth it for yourself. I just find it hard to trust someone once they have shown me their true chcaracters... even after I have forgiven them.
ReplyDeleteTrust and forgiveness are definitely too different things. Forgiveness is a gift; trust is earned.
DeleteI can forgive, but can't really forget. I find it hard to keep taking abuse from the same people as well, and find it better to just let them go. I hope each time that I learned my lesson, not really sure a lot of times what it was I was supposed to learn. xo
ReplyDeleteSometimes the only safe place is hiding our hearts in His...
DeleteThis was a very good post. I agree with Barbara. Often I can forgive, but it is hard to to forget. You pose a great question, one I will try to ask myself more often.
ReplyDeleteDelSheree, thanks for stopping by. Glad you're leaving with something to think about. :)
DeleteOh, friend, this is so timely. Many in our state are in the midst of a huge legal battle for the right to be in control of the health care of our children. It is a frightening place to be. I feel helpless as I watch friends go against their deeply held beliefs to get certain shots just to retain the right to make medical decisions for their children. We had hoped a trial this past week would have settled things for the time being. It did not. Things got much worse very quickly. We are hopeful that in the month before the case is heard again, we will have overwhelming evidence that these state agencies are not acting legally in any way. Oh, it is a frightening place to be. We serve a mighty God. He isn't surprised by any of this. We are clinging to Him and to the promise that it will all work together for good. Thank you for this post.
ReplyDeleteThe rest of my story not written above is that in the end, the party suing us came to us with a settlement offer so far in our favor only God Himself could have inspired it, particularly given the fact we were the defendant... :) God is our defender. We need no other!
DeleteYou always inspire me! I was just telling my husband this morning how much I look forward to reading your blog.
ReplyDeleteOh Michelle, that is too kind. So thankful this place is a spot of refreshment and inspiration in your day. :)
DeleteNot sure how I will respond... lots of political battles at work- not fun. We will see how it goes. Good article though.
ReplyDeleteGina, I'm sure that's no fun at all. Praying strength and wisdom for you, my friend.
DeleteThank you for my morning devotional Shannon, this was excellent. Now I need to let your questions marinate.
ReplyDeleteWhat flavor have these questions stirred in your heart? :)
DeleteThis is a battle for me. I forgive and wish no ill-will. I even intentionally pray for the people who are so hurtful because I know if they find God's will for their lives, all will be better (or maybe they just need to find their way back home). But I find myself often praying for help too...in behaving the way God wants me to...not knowing if I should avoid the person, or embrace them. It's very baffling for me because to embrace them, or include them in my life, when I know they will still be hurtful seems to not be the right answer...but then again... maybe it is. *sigh* see? struggle. And I know, TMI. :)
ReplyDeleteNever, TMI, my friend. I think this is a dance lived one day, one moment, one situation with God. It's no wonder we need more than even a daily dose of Him, huh? :)
DeleteI just saw a post about this on Carla's blog too, and babbled out a response. It's funny how you see, hear, come across the same topic a LOT when it's time for you to fix something in your life (not 'you,' per say, just in general). The radio, the newspaper, the tv, a blog...all bringing up the same point until you take the right steps to fix what you need to, and then once you do, the subject disappears (or makes its appearance somewhere else it's needed). Funny thing that... :)
DeleteSometimes the very things God puts in our path is difficult for us to deal with. But you're so right that there's hope in Him. Whether things can get tough, sometimes our belief can be hard to handle, especially when they come one right after another.
ReplyDeleteTrials definitely can shake the bedrock of our faith but hopefully they never crack our foundation...only fortify it.
DeleteWhat a beautiful perspective on such a difficult trial! Thanks for sharing from your heart!
ReplyDeleteSo thankful your heart connected to my story. I pray you are even better equipped the next time you encounter a difficult person or situation. :)
DeleteI enjoyed this. I read it a while ago, and meant to comment. Keep having to get up! ;) Each trial or step in life is just one more opportunity to show Glory to the Lord. It's something I have been thinking about. Trusting Him. Knowing that even though things look bleak, and they may very well be, He is in control. My faith in Him is far more important then earthly things. :)
ReplyDelete"In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen you love." (1 Peter 1:6-7)
What great assurance - these things that seem so difficult at the time are just temporary and the Permanent One is with us through it all.
DeleteLove the tennis analogy. :-) I've been served alright! What I've realized is that my opponent is the enemy and my most important job is to stay on the court, praying for God to help me.
ReplyDeleteYour blog just keeps getting better!
Love that "my most important job is the stay on the court, praying for God to help me". Good, good stuff!
DeleteShannon,
ReplyDeleteThese are exactly the words I need to hear today. In the grand scheme of life, I'm facing a battle that matters a whole lot to me, though probably not a lot to anyone else. I've allowed anger to fill me. I've indulged in my pity party. It's not pretty. OHHHH, why am I so quick to panic and respond emotionally? Thank you, dear lady.
On a separate note, please pray for Nathan's knee. He tore it apart playing frisbee on the quad and it's now infected. His first sickness/illness/injury away from home. :(
Love you, my friend.
Karen
Oh mama, I'm praying right now for sweet Nathan. I know that's ripping your heart out way worse than his knee. Praying for rapid healing for him and peace for you!
Deletewhat great words to read to start off the day!
ReplyDeleteGlad you were blessed!
DeleteShannon... I remember being served my "papers" back in '95 ... the beginning of the worse in my life... as I try to put it into words right now- well I feel just as dumbfounded and speechless today as I did that dreaded day. with God's grace, peace and manu blessings, Carla
ReplyDeleteIt's amazing isn't it? Praying for your heart's continued healing!
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