Sunday, April 10, 2016

Arise...



I had an epiphany the other day.  I realized that Jesus didn't attend pity parties when He walked in the flesh on planet earth.  It is written numerous places in the gospels that Jesus had compassion, yet never once in His compassion does He hug someone, pat them on the back, listen to their tale of woe, and then leave them to wallow in self-pity.  

Me, I've been known to throw myself a good pity party a time or two.  As a little girl, when someone hurt my sensitive feelings I'd shut myself in the bathroom and watch myself cry in the mirror!  The more pitiful I looked, the more I cried.  As an adult, my pity parties are more sophisticated.  I may stay in my pajamas and binge watch a favorite show on Netflix or eat something rich and sweet or buy myself something I think I deserve.  I do this and all the while I mull over how I've been hurt or wounded, betrayed or disappointed, unnoticed and under appreciated.  Wallow, wallow, wallow, sniff, sniff, sniff.

Jesus didn't even attend pity parties for people who had legitimate reasons to throw one, reasons a lot more serious than hurt feelings.  In John 5 we find the story of a man who suffered from some sort of crippling disease for thirty-eight years.  When Jesus saw him, the Bible tells us that Jesus saw that he was lying there helpless and that He knew he had been in that condition a long, long time.  Jesus didn't respond the way I want people to respond to me when I'm throwing myself a good pity party.  He didn't stoop down and hug him, pat him on the back, and say, "Oh you poor thing, tell me how long you've been like this?" and then commiserate with him about how unfairly he'd been treated.  What He did was ask him if he wanted to be made well.  In the Amplified Bible it says He asked Him if He was really in earnest about getting well.  The crippled man responds to Jesus with something that sounds to me like an invitation to join him in his pity party.  He explains that he can't get well because no one will help him into the miraculous healing waters of the pool of Bethesda. In fact, he tells Jesus that other people are pushing in before him in order to get into the healing waters themselves.  Now surely Jesus could see that life really had been unfair, unkind and cruel to this poor man. But Jesus doesn't placate him one bit.  Instead, Jesus simply says, "Get up!  Pick up your bed and walk!"  When Jesus speaks those words, it isn't with condesension, an air of superiority, or a lack of caring. On the contrary, when Jesus has compassion, He is moved by it to action.  When He tells the cripple man to get up, He does it with the accompanying healing power to make it happen.

In Isaiah 60:1, God is saying the same thing to us as He did to the crippled man by the pool of Bethesda.  "Arise!"  He's telling us to get up. Just as He clearly saw and understood the condition of the crippled man and the length of the time he'd been suffering, He clearly sees the circumstances that has caused our depression and prostration, the thing that makes us want to stay in bed with the covers pulled over our head.  He is moved with compassion for us, but He's not going to join us in our pity party, no matter how justified that pity party is.  You see, Jesus is an action kind of guy.  He's moved with compassion and when we are really in earnest about getting well He expects us to move as well. He's not asking us to do it on our own however, He's speaking the life giving words to us that enable us to do it.  "Arise, shine, My glory has risen upon you.  Now quit laying there in defeat and get up!"*


still following,

*(Dear readers, there is a difference between a pity party and going through a time of genuine mourning and even brokenness after loss or trauma.  God's Word is clear that there is a time to mourn.  In that same passage in Ecclesiastes 3:3-5 He also says there is a time to heal.  Thank God, that He doesn't leave us in our mourning and brokenness, but He helps us to heal.  I still have moments of missing my mama something fierce over five years after her death.  Being healed doesn't necessarily mean we don't still feel our loss, in my opinion.)



12 comments:

  1. Elizabeth,
    Thank you again for showing us the truth that is in God's words. Yes, I have been in a pity party right today!!! That is why I am writing this at 4:21 am!!!! Not because I am an early riser but I pityed myself into not being able to sleep last night. I am overwhelmed with all my preps that must be finished. It is so very hard. So many decisions. I LOVE the last sentence you wrote!!! That is going to be my mantra!!! I am weary and worn but I will keep that last sentence close by....I am printing it out.
    I even feel like going to sleep now.
    Thank you!!!!
    Addie

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  2. Addie, I'm so glad that God used these words to bless and encourage you. Get some good rest!

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  3. So happy I popped over to read the rest! Oh what a pity party I had for myself recently. I think healing comes in the acceptance but I agree with what you said about how we still feel loss and trauma over things that happen in our lives. Wonderful read today Elizabeth!!

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    1. Cheryl, what God is doing in your life just blesses me so much. I think you are heading into a new season, your best yet!

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  4. Great post, Elizabeth. And so counter-cultural! It's so common nowadays to be encouraged in our self-focus, it's important to remember the truth of scripture and the clear direction (and help) it gives us for our lives. Have a blessed day.

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    1. I guess maybe it is counter-cultural. As long as it's pro-Jesus and pro-Word of God I'm ok with that. We definitely are living in a selfie culture in more ways than on our phones!

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  5. Wow, this is uplifting and encouraging. I know I am guilty of the pity party. Jesus loves me though and wants me to arise in faith and follow Him. Thank you.

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    1. I've been guilty, too, Mary. I thank God that it's not too late for you and I to respond to God's words to arise!

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  6. I have always been intrigued by the story of Jesus healing the man by the pool. A man who offered excuses when asked if he wanted to be healed. I suppose he had been there so long, he didn't know what he'd do with himself if he was whole. And yet . . . apparently he did exactly as Jesus told him to, without questioning. When Jesus asks me if I want to be whole, I'm afraid that often I kind of want to stay in my pity party. Carrying my mat home seems like too much work and trouble. Praise God - he isn't put off by my pettiness! He offers me healing anyway! May I obey without question!

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    1. Kym, you expressed the heart of the matter so well. We often get too comfortable with staying in our brokenness, don't we? Oh, but I don't want to settle for less than the fullness of freedom and wholeness that God has for me!

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  7. This is a great inspirational post to remind me to do something about my circumstances, rather than just complain about them. Thanks!

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    1. Brenda, this post seems to have hit a trigger with many, me included! God wants us to be free and whole and I so want to experience that in its fullness.

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