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Self-Pity
Have you recently felt you deserved something, but got passed by? The first record of such feelings is in Genesis 4. Cain was downcast because his offering was not accepted by God, as Cain thought it should be. God warned him to face his condition of self-pity. He said, "If you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it." (Genesis 4:7)
When we face difficult situations, our faith is tested. The enemy tries to take advantage of us during our testing periods by whispering discouraging thoughts to us. Feeling wounded or experiencing loss can cause us to lose sight of our future. When hopelessness settles inside us, we lose our sense of faith and expectancy in God. At times like this, the biggest demonic force that with which we have to contend is self-pity.
Self-pity draws attention to our loss and keeps us from seeing God's activity in our lives. Any time we experience loss, trauma, wounding or injustice, we can either choose to live with a belief system that God can heal and forgive, or we can develop a mind-set of rejection, self-defense and self-pity. During these difficult times, we may be tempted to accuse God for the trauma that we are experiencing. The power of this accusation leads to a type of fatherlessness. Instead of experiencing the "Spirit of adoption," (Romans 8:15) we feel abandoned and lost. In this place of loneliness and spiritual isolation we may become self-defensive, hard and unteachable. We start to believe, "No one understands me or what I am going through." We also begin to think that there is no solution to our problem and that there is no way out. We fall into apathy because we have no hope of healing or restoration.
Additionally, Self-pity leads to a sense of entitlement. We become self-absorbed and focus on what we want and believe we deserve. When "self" is in control, when we are no longer looking for or submitting to God's will, we demand our way and our right to secure things and our place.
Cain slid from self-pity to a sense of entitlement. It caused him to be jealous of his brother, and to judge God. Sin was crouching at his door, and though he had the authority to overcome it by choosing to submit to God, he did not. He chose a self-absorbed life; he killed his brother and lived as a restless wanderer.
When you face difficulties, or when you seemingly get passed by with the "good things" in life, receive these times as opportunities to exercise your faith in God. Believe that He will complete His work in you, that He knows your needs, sees what you are doing in secret and will reward you. You can overcome the self-pity that is crouching at your door by choosing to believe God. Praise Him and thank Him for His unwavering love for you, and continue to hope for your future in Him. Such faith will not disappoint you! (Romans 5:1-5) God is with you; He will never leave or forsake you.
When we face difficult situations, our faith is tested. The enemy tries to take advantage of us during our testing periods by whispering discouraging thoughts to us. Feeling wounded or experiencing loss can cause us to lose sight of our future. When hopelessness settles inside us, we lose our sense of faith and expectancy in God. At times like this, the biggest demonic force that with which we have to contend is self-pity.
Self-pity draws attention to our loss and keeps us from seeing God's activity in our lives. Any time we experience loss, trauma, wounding or injustice, we can either choose to live with a belief system that God can heal and forgive, or we can develop a mind-set of rejection, self-defense and self-pity. During these difficult times, we may be tempted to accuse God for the trauma that we are experiencing. The power of this accusation leads to a type of fatherlessness. Instead of experiencing the "Spirit of adoption," (Romans 8:15) we feel abandoned and lost. In this place of loneliness and spiritual isolation we may become self-defensive, hard and unteachable. We start to believe, "No one understands me or what I am going through." We also begin to think that there is no solution to our problem and that there is no way out. We fall into apathy because we have no hope of healing or restoration.
Additionally, Self-pity leads to a sense of entitlement. We become self-absorbed and focus on what we want and believe we deserve. When "self" is in control, when we are no longer looking for or submitting to God's will, we demand our way and our right to secure things and our place.
Cain slid from self-pity to a sense of entitlement. It caused him to be jealous of his brother, and to judge God. Sin was crouching at his door, and though he had the authority to overcome it by choosing to submit to God, he did not. He chose a self-absorbed life; he killed his brother and lived as a restless wanderer.
When you face difficulties, or when you seemingly get passed by with the "good things" in life, receive these times as opportunities to exercise your faith in God. Believe that He will complete His work in you, that He knows your needs, sees what you are doing in secret and will reward you. You can overcome the self-pity that is crouching at your door by choosing to believe God. Praise Him and thank Him for His unwavering love for you, and continue to hope for your future in Him. Such faith will not disappoint you! (Romans 5:1-5) God is with you; He will never leave or forsake you.
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