Charles Swindoll wrote a few years ago, "Whatever
you do, don't excuse sinful behavior by claiming you
are 'addicted' or 'victimized.' Those terms only
help you escape responsibility."
One of the most important steps in
overcoming any sin or a difficult or tragic
situation in our lives is claiming responsibility
for our own actions. But for many folks that's not a
very popular approach. Certainly some folks suffer
from chemical problems that can be helped with
medication. But sometimes we are so quick to bypass
the issue of character. We convince ourselves that
we suffer the trials we do because of bad things
that happen to us over which we have no control.
Pretty soon we are helpless, hopeless and hapless.
Poor us. "Nobody knows the troubles I've seen;
nobody knows my sorrow." Sad state of affairs,
isn't it?
But God doesn't afford us the luxury of
wallowing in self-pity or victimization. Several
times in scripture we have accounts of men who were
beaten down by some tragedy or unhappy turn of
events. Basically God's message was, "Get up and get
going!" When Cain was sulking over his sacrifice God
told him to do the right thing and he wouldn't feel
so bad (Genesis 4:7). When Jezebel was after
Elijah's neck he became a recluse and lamented, "Woe
is me!" God told him to get up and do his job. He
wasn't the Lone Martyr he perceived himself to be (1
Kings 19). When Israel was stung over her defeat at
the hands of Ai and the subsequent execution of Achan who caused it, God told them "Do not fear
or be dismayed. Take all the people of war with you
and arise, go up to Ai; see, I have given into your
hand the king of Ai, his people, his city, and his
land" (Joshua 8:1).
If we are to overcome trials and
tribulations there are some things we must know. Let
me call your attention to two Bible passages that
you need to read over and over again when you’re
feeling sorry for yourself.
“No
temptation has overtaken you that is not common to
man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be
tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation
he will also provide the way of escape, that you may
be able to endure it” (1 Corinthians 10:13).
“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials
of various kinds, for you know that the testing of
your faith produces steadfastness. And let
steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be
perfect and complete, lacking in nothing” (James
1:2-4).
From these you should learn:
1. Your suffering is not unique. Other
people have experience the same inconvenient,
unpleasant or even tragic things you have. They
either allowed themselves to be beaten by them or
they sought God’s path.
2. God knows what you can handle and
what you can't. You don’t grow stronger without your
spiritual muscles being pushed to higher limits. So
you can get stronger by greater tests or you can
atrophy in self-pity.
3. God always provides a way.
Always. It may not always be a pleasant
way but it’s always there. You may be mocked and
rejected by men and suffer the loss of what you
thought was precious. But you have to ask yourself
what is most important—having favor with people or
God? Both is not always possible.
4. Dealing with trials in a God-honoring
manner produces positive results. Whining and
wallowing in self-pity perpetuates the problem. From
time to time bad things are going to happen. How we
respond to these things is up to us.
God bless you,
Brad Fry
