Fearlessly Courageous
Desk of Dennis Piller
9 23 2024
Where exactly is God in our pity parties?
As you know, my daughter Danielle fell off her horse almost two weeks ago and broke her ankle and twisted her other knee. I have been praying daily that it is not more than a strained knee, but we go to a 2nd orthopedic specialist on Monday because the MRI said she has a torn ACL and MCL in her knee, and surgery is probably the answer. My heart sank. I didn’t say anything most of the way home because I didn’t have anything but a couple of platitudes to share with my 22-year-old.
I was really disappointed in God. I had frankly had just about enough,
and I was honestly on the verge of tears, I was so upset with the prognosis.
I threw myself into work for the afternoon, but it was still there when I looked up at the days close.
Honestly, I was gravitating towards having a pity party… when I am in private. But, I want to be uplifting to my girl and my family. They have often said they felt like they lived the life of a preacher’s kid because of all my involvement with God and ministry over their lifetime. It certainly wouldn’t do for me to go weak at the knees with that kind of expectation. But it isn’t about me. It isn’t about an image we project. It’s about real life! Getting discouraged at times. Just because we are Christians doesn’t mean we get a Get Out of Jail Free Card! It has been a hard year physically, which flows over into our finances and our mental health and relationships. It has been a battle.
But before I go any further, I was to say that God can handle you getting upset with him.
He understands you wanted something different that what you prayed for!
I have several options. I can have my pity party. Which I did for the afternoon. But interestingly, in the inner solitude of my thoughts, it was Danielle who was feeding my spirit, saying…Dad, it could have been much worse. We will get through this. Of course, after she thought about missing 6 to 8 weeks of work. She asked, Dad, how am I going to pay for my horse? I said, Honey, the Lord will provide.
I can’t explain the season or the year we have gone through. I am still waiting for the answer to what I feel have been spiritual attacks on every front. My mom always told me to take a look around when you are feeling depressed to see you don’t have it as poorly as you imagine. Christopher Reeves…you know Superman, came off a horse and was paralyzed from the neck down. All of Danielle’s injuries are treatable.
My first bit of advice to me is to not run away and hide these feelings. Run to your brothers and sisters in Christ. He gave us community so they could minister to us as we have done many times. Let them help you carry the emotional load.
Spend time in prayer acknowledging who he is: Look up to the things that are above. Phil 4 10. God is bigger than whatever it is we are facing. Phil 4: 5-7 says “Don’t worry about anything, instead pray about everything.” If we place our eyes squarely on him, we WILL find peace in the midst of the storm. Choose you this day who you will serve. His promise is that His Peace will guard your heart and mind as you live in Christ Jesus.
Serve others: We need to see God outside of our difficulties. We need to focus on what God says to us to continue to grow the trust in our hearts toward God.
Understand that you not only have your community and your family, but you also have God the Holy Spirit, who lives to make intercession on your behalf. So where do you want to put your troubles? Who do you choose to lean on during hard times?
Choose this day who you will give yourself to!
So as hard as it is…We have a choice to have a pity party and lean on what? What are we thinking? That we were unlucky. Do you really believe in that? Or do you think you have been treated unfairly and need some sympathy? Look at Job in 10: 1 “I loathe my very life; therefore, I will give free rein to my complaint and speak out in the bitterness of my soul”. Have you ever had a self-indulgent… feeling sorry for yourself…pity party?
Logically, self-pity is anti-motivational – it’s an energy-draining experience. We can easily get stuck in procrastination, avoidance, and self-defeating behaviors when we focus on how badly we have it. Or we can do what Ps 55:22 says. “Cast your burden on the LORD, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved.” Psalm 55:22 touches on how you don’t have to go it alone when times are tough. Instead, turn to the Lord who will ‘sustain’ you and help you get through it. I think oftentimes we don’t think of God as “A person” who is near and walks with us.
Run to his scriptures. Build your faith. Read Ps 23:2: He makes me lie down in green pastures. Is 41:10 says, so do not fear for I am with you. Do not be dismayed. I am your God, I will strengthen you and help you, and I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. finally, ps 46, 1 God is our refuge and ever-present help in times of trouble. God helps by giving refuge in the midst of our battles and trials. Call on Him! Knock on his door. Keep asking. Keep praying. Keep Believing! He is the believer’s safe place in times of trouble.
Jesus has always been our example. He asked that this cup pass him by in the Garden. But He stayed faithful. He trusted God though he sweat beads of blood. He learned obedience through the things he suffered. Hebrews 5: 8-14 He knows how I feel and how you feel. I have spoken to a number of you lately who are in really tough situations. Choose to trust God beyond your emotions that overflow at times. Trust in him even though you don’t know what’s around the next bend. (None of us do). You will get through this. He will walk with you. Take his hand. Reach out to your sisters and brothers, and if you don’t have anyone reach out to me…
But make sure you reach out to him first.
Reba McEntire – Back to God ft Lauren Daigle (Lyrics)
