When the world gives you lemons, sometimes you say... thank you!
My realization came with a beautiful song, let me share the lyrics with you. :) I hope you get to enjoy it as much as I do....
I take all the gifts that You have given and I stake my claim like they're my own
Will you help me when I forget to remember the good I've got is Yours alone?
Oh 'cause I don't wanna tell some arrogant story or let myself believe I'm You
I don't wanna be a thief who's stealing Your glory
Will You help remind me of what is true
The only hope I've got
It's You, You
It's You, You
Why do I think I have anything to offer when You have overcome the world?
Couldn't take Your place cause You're the author of the greatest love this world has known
Oh and I don't wanna tell some arrogant story or let myself believe I'm You
I don't wanna be a thief who's stealing Your glory
Will You help remind me of what is true
The only hope I've got
It's You, You
It's You, You
Well, it's only by Your grace that I've heard You whisper my name
And I don't have the power to save, to change a heart
Won't You come and change my heart?
'Cause I don't wanna tell some arrogant story or let myself believe I'm You
I don't wanna be a thief who's stealing Your glory
Will You help remind me of what is true
The only hope I've got
It's You, You
It's You, You
Yeah it's You
I realized an important lesson just now. It has been a long time in coming, but I think its definitely a real piece of truth that I can take hold of.
Have you ever been told you don't measure up? Maybe you lost a job, got dumped by your girlfriend or fiancé, missed that big promotion, whatever...
Well, I've experienced some of these things lately, and it made me really question my worth. For a while I was pretty upset. How could they pass me up for the job? Why would he choose that girl instead of me? Etc. I have been left to re-think some of my gifts, talents, beauty, worth, etc. And well, lets face it... I wanted to come out of the race with the first place prize - but I didn't.
I was listening to this song tonight by Ellie Holcomb and I am so glad for her insight, because for the first time I have been able to look at my circumstances and see the truth. I have been arrogant. I needed to be kicked off my horse to remember that I am not the best thing since sliced bread. I am not the smartest person in the room or the prettiest woman out there. I am not the most gracious person with more to offer than God does.
I mean I don't really want to admit it, but I have to face it: I needed to be told that the only hope I've got in this world is God - not anything that I have or done. So, thank you kind sir for not choosing me. And thank you lady for passing me over for the job. The only good things I have in this world are from Christ. I am not him - and the moment I think I can fulfill the price that he paid, please, knock me off my horse again. Pride is an ugly thing - its sin - and it separates us from Christ.
I was recently reading in Numbers 16 from the Bible and I was skimming over the story about some group of people that were upset with leadership and they wanted some equality. At this point, I became a little more interested in the story and I thought, "Oh good, some people I can actually relate to" - I wasn't really sure as to why they were upset with the leadership, but it sounded like they probably had a legitimate reason since they were described as "people of renown" - and they apparently represented a lot of people. I figured that had to equate to down to earth folks who would only make reasonable demands.
About the time that I realized I was connected with these people, God got angry with them and caused the earth to swallow them up. At that moment my eyes got really big and I realized I've got some big problems here... I just identified with the people who God was so angry with that he sent them straight to hell while they were still living. So , needless to say, I was disturbed. How have I gotten so off base that I just connected with the people in the story who were totally condemned to hell and made a spectacle of?!?!
Well, I think its easy. It starts with just a small amount of pride and then it takes over your life and you want to be better than God. You forget that the only hope you have in this world comes from the gift that Jesus Christ gave you by sacrificing his life for yours. And you remind yourself that you could never be good enough - we are only saved my grace. Life is a gift. Every good thing we receive is a gift.
Thank you Jesus for the lemons that you gave me. They are a true gift. Change my heart and please help me to remember that every gift I am given is only because you are good.
