Hello everyone.
I ask this question because I woke up yesterday feeling sorry for myself. No, I'm not immune to that. I woke up that way for a few reasons, none of which were beneficial or helpful to me.
So, once again, why do we feel sorry for ourselves? Is it because we feel we could have done better or done something different? Is it because we feel like failures? Is it because we are worried about what others are thinking? Are we comparing our lives to someone else's and saying "why not me"?
I would venture to say, all of us can answer yes to any the questions I posed above, at least at some point in our lives, I know I can.
I would like to propose an answer to the question about why we feel sorry for ourselves. My answer is simply this: we refuse in moments or at certain points in our lives to trust in a God who knows everything about us and about His plan for us. We think we know better. We think we have the past, the present and the future all figured out. The truth is we don't know everything about us or our future or even our past or present. We sometimes don't even know our own motives but God does. The best laid plans of mice and men can come to naught for good reasons.
Let me ask you this. If you trust an all knowing God to care for you and have your back, what room do you have to feel sorry for yourself?
Think about it.
I came to three conclusions yesterday (I have been working on these for quite sometime actually): 1) He has always taken care of me; 2) I don't have to know everything to trust Him and have a good life, not even the why's of life; and 3) My life is not someone else's life. It doesn't have to look like someone else's life or be the "norm" as some consider the "norm" to be. God has a path for me to follow, not for me to imitate someone else, hoping to be like them.
I have concluded that feeling sorry for myself is not an option as God is always for Me and He has a specific plan and path for me. No, it may not look like yours. Yes, it might even make others uncomfortable. Yes, some people may not understand everything I choose to do but that is okay. It's not their plan or purpose and their understanding is not a requirement for me to do and enjoy what God has for me.
I ask you to do one thing if you are feeling sorry for yourself: look around you at all the blessings God has given you and thank Him. When you start thanking Him, it will take your focus off of you and what you "don't have" and put your focus on Him and what you do have.
Feeling sorry for ourselves keeps us stuck if we aren't careful and we won't see all the things around us that God has for us. We won't see the plan or path because we will be too worried about someone else's plan or path.
Don't get stuck today, choose gratitude over complaining and stay focused on His plan and path for you instead of another's.
Walking His way for me,
Beth