Blurp – gurgle – slosh! Instead of releasing the
bath water down the open drain, the tub voiced its disapproval. I had no idea
we had a clog in the pipe until it was too late. Now I had a tub full of sudsy
water and no way to get rid of it.
This was just what I needed today. I had been on a
cold medicine induced roller coaster for several days. My nerves were frayed
and I was more than a little sensitive. So when a friend didn’t react the way I
thought she should, I quickly choose to be offended.
That’s
not fair!
Doesn’t she care about my feelings?
Why is it always my job? Doesn’t this matter to her?
Doesn’t she care about my feelings?
Why is it always my job? Doesn’t this matter to her?
Admittedly, this was not my finest hour. Overwhelmed with frustration, I decided to
soak in a nice hot tub. I needed time to think and, basically, feel sorry for
myself. An hour later, still angry and hurt, I pulled the plug to drain the
water but the tub refused to comply. Something was clogging the pipe. In that
moment, God gave me a much needed change of perspective:
I
was clogged with self-assurance.
My feelings were hurt and I was justified to feel the way I did, wasn’t I? Or was I so set on having my own way that I didn’t stop to consider there was another point of view? Maybe my way wasn’t the only way to do this.
My feelings were hurt and I was justified to feel the way I did, wasn’t I? Or was I so set on having my own way that I didn’t stop to consider there was another point of view? Maybe my way wasn’t the only way to do this.
I
was clogged with self-righteousness.
Yes, my friend had disappointed me. But how many times have I disappointed other people? Disappointed God? She deserved the same forgiveness I had been given time and time again.
Yes, my friend had disappointed me. But how many times have I disappointed other people? Disappointed God? She deserved the same forgiveness I had been given time and time again.
I
was clogged with self-centeredness.
Were my feelings hurt because my expectations were unrealistic? Did I really know what she thought or felt about the situation? There could be more going on with her than I realized.
Were my feelings hurt because my expectations were unrealistic? Did I really know what she thought or felt about the situation? There could be more going on with her than I realized.
Gradually I had become so clogged with ‘self’ that I
wasn’t allowing God to flow through me at all but I didn’t realize it until it
was completely blocked. I had taken my eyes off of God and focused on the
things I wanted. Thankful for the new perspective, I asked God to push out the
clog that blocked His mercy and grace.
Have you been feeling a clog in your spirit? Has His
love and mercy been freely flowing through you or do you have a little ‘self’
blocking the way? Just like purging the buildup in a pipe, we can allow God to
remove the ‘self-clog’ so His love could flow through… no plumber required!
Be blessed,
Jennifer
“Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has
said, streams of living water will flow from within him.” John 7:38
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