by Darin Smith
“Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is born of God and knows God.”–1 John 4:7
“I don’t love. I can’t. It doesn’t seem possible sometimes to love someone. There is this one girl who I hate. Almost every time I think of her, my anger boils. It doesn’t seem like I can help it. I pray and pray and pray, but God doesn’t seem to be helping me. There doesn’t seem to be much hope in the whole situation.”
Yes, this is how I have been feeling for a while now about this one girl. I have to admit it. I’ve been analyzing this situation for a while now, trying to figure out why in the world I feel this way about this girl. I’ve been wondering why it seems like God isn’t helping me out with this. Has God turned His back on me? Am I cut off from God? No. It’s all me. God has nothing to do with my holding on to these feelings.
You see, I’ve noticed that I don’t want to be helped. I am asking and asking and asking God to help me, but I don’t really want help. I know how I feel about this girl is wrong. But I like getting angry. I like the feeling of power that overtakes me when I get angry with her. I like the burning inside. Now, I have to admit, I am ashamed of this. This girl is gone in my life. She is not my concern anymore. I need to drop all this hatred.
To change my attitude, the first thing I have to do is to want to change. I have to want to be forgiving and want to have peace about this girl. Most of all, I have to love. I have to love this girl, even if I feel she has hurt me. No matter what sh e has before, will now, or will in the future do to me, I have to love her. Not for God’s sake, but for mine. I will never grow in Christ until I forgive this girl and let go of these feelings.
My point in this whole devotion is this: examine you life. If there is a sin that seems to be overriding you in life, analyze the situation. Ask for God’s guidance with the situation. Take stock of your life right now before you go on. You may have something in your life that may hinder your growth in Christ. This makes all the difference.
Faith Lesson: Examining your priorities with people can help root out anger, hatred, and dissension.
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