Look at the Blessings Not the Pain

Psalm 118:8-9:

It is better to take refuge in the Lord
    than to trust in humans.
⁹ It is better to take refuge in the Lord
    than to trust in princes.

Proverbs 17:17

¹⁷ A friend loves at all times,
    and a brother is born for a time of adversity.

Sometimes it can feel like the world is caving in on you, and that you are all alone. Like David, we can relate to the pain of many others spreading rumors, lies, and pressuring us. David even understood having someone close to him betray and even attack him. Saul was his best friend’s father, and David was a faithful servant to Saul. However, Saul became jealous of David’s success and popularity, and soon he was to kill David. Many of us may experience this with coworkers, friends, and sadly even family.

What do we do when anger builds or pain fills us because someone we thought meant well hurts us? Maybe it is a supervisor who says they are with you one minute and are pressuring you to move on the next. Maybe it is a parent who promised to be there, but never came through on such promises. When we think about these things pain can bubble, and when another situation arises similar to the last it can come back. So, what can we do?

First, remember and stand on the promise that God always cares and is always with us.

• The truth is that no matter who they are as humans none of us can keep a promise to always be there for someone else. We may want to, but the fact is that we can’t be everywhere at once and life will pressure us and we will let others down. This also means that others will let us down as well. We can still build trust with others, but we should never substitute our relationships with others for the needed and trusting relationship with the ever present God.
• David knew God’s promises were everlasting, and writes “It is better to take refuge in the Lord.” When you are hurting, worried, and feeling alone remember God hasn’t left. God is forever, and he will never leave us or forsake us.

Secondly, don’t let pain caused by an argument at work or with a spouse or family member keep you from seeing those who are a blessing to you.

• All to often pain and hurt keep us from seeing the good things going on around you.
• Pain and hurt can cause us to completely miss the many who may be supporting us.
• God usually brings more people who are on our side than the one or few who are causing us worry or concern.

I’ve been reminded this week of all these things. Changing my living situation and leaving jobs I’ve been in for nearly twenty years has been hard, and some leaders have really shown they were less concerned for me than they had indicated.

However, I’ve also had some great coworkers in my other job and some great leaders in the administration who have expressed sincere and genuine kindness. I almost lost that view yesterday, by those who barely know me and are simply business-focused with little tact or compassion. Then last night God reminded me of they many coworkers who have dropped cards of blessing to me at my other job. I was reminded that the administrators in this job who work with me daily have also expressed true encouragement. I was even reminded that those in my now former job never knew me and are simply doing their job, even though without the compassion their positions should give. I thank God for those who are real.

God has never left me even in the darkest times of life, and what’s more is that God has given me sincere friends, sincere leaders, and sincere coworkers to share those blessings we all need.

Whatever you face today. Remember you can know you are never alone. God is always with you. Also, look around for the blessings and those God puts in your life to bless you, they are there and they will be the light to carry you through.

• Blessings on the journey.