SELF PITY

Entitlement and Self-pity have insatiable appetites. The more you "drink" the more you demand. It is like drinking the salty sea water while dying of dehydration in the middle of the Atlantic.

We have all been through (and caused!) unjust pain and suffering to one degree or another in life. A few years ago, my suffering led me to drink the poisonous cup of self-pity and wallowing. One day, I was feeling especially sorry for myself when God said (with His arm around my shoulder as usual), "Randy, stop looking at your wounds and start looking at mine."

In one sentence, He freed me for life from that immobilizing, isolating and deceptive quandry of needing other people to understand and treat me fairly to be happy in life. Now, when injustice occurs towards me, I have learned to take JOY that I get an opportunity to understand the insults, betrayal and scouraging Jesus bore on my behalf. And I actually weep now because I can empathize with His pain as I have spent a lot more time "looking at His wounds" rather than my own.

On this Easter weekend, try looking at your suffering and pain in life through the lens of HIS suffering and pain instead of looking at Him through the lens of your suffering and pain. One will lead to life and happiness and the other will lead to resentment, anger, unforgiveness and eventually hatred and death.

"By His wounds, we are healed." Is. 53.

Happy Easter friends, He loves us.