Have you ever found yourself asking that question? Do you ever feel like screaming out, “Why am I always the one who has to do the right thing?"
Believe it or not, I actually have some answers to my own questions for a change. First, if you love Jesus, then you love to do the things that please Him. It’s not about your right to be treated well by others. By the way, you do have the right to choose to act however you want, but if you are in love with your Lord, you will choose things that bless His heart over your rights. The second answer is that you do what’s right because you are only responsible for you. You really don’t know what God is working on in someone else’s life. God may be calling them to change, but that’s between them and God, so stop focusing on what others are not doing. Focus on what God is doing in you. Third, if you don’t make peace and do what’s right, it holds you back, not necessarily anyone else. Last, there are some things that we only learn and understand to a degree before we actually have to put them into practice in the midst of experience to solidify our understanding. Concepts become concrete when poured into action.
Is someone else ignoring, taking advantage of, or devaluing you? Can they devalue you? In the sight of themselves and others, sure. In the sight of God, never! And only in your mind if you allow it. Never let someone else’s actions or words be attached to your value or identity unless those things agree with what God says about you. You may have to make space between you and people who continue to make you feel less valuable. You never give those people access to your heart, and if they are already people close to you, you may have to move them out to an arm’s length for a season while God strengthens you and builds up your confidence in who He has called you to be.
How do we get through all of these life opportunities? Do you like my word choice there? I could have said struggle, challenges, or battles, but everything we face is an opportunity to draw closer to Father God, to hear His heart for us. The most important thing is to pursue His presence. It is amazing that when we come into His presence we experience almost immediate relief from or release of pain. As we stay in that place, He brings us to a place of freedom from that pain. Did I say pain? Yes, when others treat us wrong or we perceive that they do, it hurts. That’s real. But freedom is more real!
Another thing that helps us to get the most out of these opportunities is to recognize that if you seem to “always be the one” who has to rise above the stuff, maybe it’s because, for the call on your life, you are going to need to develop a stewardship and responsibility for Kingdom qualities and character in order to grow in and release the things God is bringing you into. The word does tell us that to whom much is given, much is required. When you feel like so much more is being required of you than those around you, it may be that you should start rejoicing that much is being given to you. God is training you, in the midst of it all, to thrive, not just survive.
Why do I always have to be the peacemaker? I saved the best for last. Wait! Don’t read this like you always have. Behold it! "Behold it" means to look at it, look into it, and focus on it. Behold, “Blessed are the peacemakers for they will be called the sons of God.” (Matthew 5:9) Read it again. “Blessed are the peacemakers for they will be called the sons of God.” Peacemaking is a privilege of the sons and daughters of the King. He gives us grace to be the ones who make peace and therefore walk in peace. Selah!
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