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More specifically, it's dealing with shortcomings--my own and everyone else's.
Everybody I encounter messes up. Every single person I rub up against in this life irritates me or hurts me or disappoints me sooner or later. And I do the same for them.
I don't like that.
Some days, it makes me just want to hide.
Dealing with God is different. I can depend on God to be kind and forgiving and constant. Even in exercising judgement or punishment, He is loving me. He never gives me the annihilation I really deserve, but is merciful and generous. I am safe with Him.
So why in the world am I stuck here in the world with people? Frustrating, inconstant, sinful people?
I am not safe with any of them.
Nuts.
What good, in the end, are we for each other anyway?
As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.--Proverbs 27:17
People hone me. Make me sharper, better.
I would much rather float through life with a perfect God, but His perfection does not provide the testing I need to make me holy. People do.
God gives us each other to show us what not to be.
How does He do that?
Lies teach me truth.
Cruelty teaches me kindness.
Betrayal teaches me fidelity.
Disrespect teaches me honor.
Thievery teaches me simplicity.
Lasciviousness teaches me purity.
When I encounter sin in myself or the people around me, I can use it to change myself. That is it's purpose.
A perfect God shows me what I am to become and sends me imperfect people to take me there.
Teaches - yes - but change - oh so hard and forgetting the hurt............This one blog could be a book
ReplyDeleteA book. Hmmm. Well, I guess it is in a way. Most books incorporate at least a little of this struggle, but a book can't teach this--at least no book other than the Bible, anyway. :)
Deleteyou are correct and it helps to have a helpful teacher like JoAnne Potter
DeleteOh my--thanks for that. I am blessed by it.
DeleteI love how you have framed this -- how even the negative things people do can still lead you to His truth and goodness.
ReplyDeleteThey have to, don't they? Otherwise, why would a good God allow them into our lives? So grateful--for all of it. Blessings, Jo
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DeleteThis hits home. I think I do pretty well when no one else is around. But add another person to the environment, and all kinds of things can go awry. Sigh. Training ground. I need imperfect people to help me with my own imperfections.
ReplyDeleteNo kidding. And knowing that should help us understand the situations we end up in but, well, not so good at the either. Training ground indeed.
DeleteJoAnne,
ReplyDeleteAh, yes...Like how you can see God's goodness in the midst of it...yes, and how we need His grace...for ourselves and so we can extend it to others...visiting from SDG...
Thanks, but gotta see God doing good in every circumstance. He told us that He does...
DeleteJoAnne, this is a good word. So glad I stopped by here today because I needed this reminder! Thanks :)
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for stopping and for leaving a comment.
DeleteI love this. I will print this out and keep it a a reminder of what God does.
ReplyDeleteLies teach me truth.
Cruelty teaches me kindness.
Betrayal teaches me fidelity.
Disrespect teaches me honor.
Thievery teaches me simplicity.
Lasciviousness teaches me purity.
You know, as I read the list, I think, "It might be true but its' so HAAAARD...."
DeleteOh, JoAnne, you really hit it - we all do pretty well without "other people" to corrupt us, right? But yes, they teach us, too - so true! Thanks for linking up with #HearItUseIt, friend!
ReplyDeleteAnd it's not just the corruption--it's the annoyance and interruption. That's sometimes worse. But God knows best.
DeleteHi, JoAnne! This is a great perspective -- way to flesh out James's command to "Consider it all joy... when you encounter various trials..."
ReplyDeleteConsider it all joy...I hadn't thought of that. Thanks, Janice. :)
DeleteJoAnne (please forgive misspelling in my last comment!),
ReplyDeleteWhen I came to your website to read today's post, I "happened" upon this one. What timeliness! Just what I needed, during a time I especially need it. I am so struck with how often this timeliness of God happens. Glad you put a link to it in the sidebar. Thank you for its truth and wisdom.
So glad it served good purpose. Merry Christmas!
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