Avoid Anger's Message – Ask God

Anger and fear are close companions. Both deliver the same message, “Fight or take flight.” When the message is “fight”, it may mean stand your ground, take offensive action either physically or verbally. An immediate adrenaline rush gives strength, courage and the ability to think faster for defending and protecting oneself.

Anger’s message may be to “take flight” to avoid conflict and harm. Jacob ran away from his brother to escape Esau’s intention to kill him. Jacob was possibly resentful and angry with his mother for talking him into deceiving his brother. He possibly felt resentful of Esau for being his father's favorite.

While anger and fear are inescapable, both can be managed in healthy, productive ways to prevent harm and hurt from developing in relationships. The first step is to admit these feelings exist. Then ask God for wisdom so a safe and healthy resolution can be forthcoming. Ask God for courage to follow his will and plan.  

Voices of Anger

Anger is not as bad an emotion as some people believe. Those persons whose anger has been terrifying and harmful certainly have the right to fear it in themselves and others. Listen, however, as Nehemiah characterizes God's anger. "You are a forgiving God, gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love." God's anger is also patient.

Our anger can be impatient, demanding and controlling. When Jacob's father-in-law Laban learned Jacob had packed up everything and left without saying goodbye, he was furious. For days he pursued Jacob before catching up. However, God warned Laban before he encountered Jacob to "Be careful not to say anything to Jacob, either good or bad." 

 Laban’s anger had not escalated into rage, so he was able to hear God's warning. God’s lesson for us is to listen to other voices rather than the voice of anger. God’s voice of patience and compassion needs to be heard to prevent anger’s voice of hurt, harm and alienation from taking control.

Change Needed? Face It and Act Today!

When life gets out of control, the most common response is anger because of the loss of personal power. When Jacob marshaled all his courage, gathered his family and set out for his homeland, his father-in-law Laban was fit to be tied. Jacob feared his father-in-law would take possession of all he owned, including his wives and children. 

 

          Jacob could never stand up to his father-in-law, so resentment and anger had to be suppressed. We often resent a person's ability to take charge, to be in control and dominate a situation. So suppressing anger is one way to manage it, and we do so by pretending that it doesn't exist or that whatever caused it is of no importance. 

          Everyone is capable of anger, but who can express it in beneficial ways? We're often afraid of anger, even our own. We feel angry when something has gone awry, when changes need to be made but we’re fearful of making the needed changes. “Never let the sun go down on your anger” means facing needed change and acting on it.

Gifts from God ~ Hope and Jesus' Love

What should be our hope on this Christmas Day as we celebrate God’s demonstration of love for us through Christ Jesus? The Gospel hymn makes it clear: “My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness. I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus’ name.”

God never forgets you regardless of your need for hope and recovery. His love is constant, so your hope comes from God as Jeremiah 29: 12-13 promises. “You will call on me and come and pray to me and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” HOPE through the LOVE of CHRIST JESUS is God’s gift to you , so God bless you on this Christmas day!  

Gifts from God ~ Hope and Joy

Where do we find hope in a world filled with uncertainty and divisiveness?  Hope cannot be found in politicians or political creeds, for these are unstable. We want the world to be safe and trustworthy, but it continues to disappoint, as it seems to be in opposition to God’s love and mercy.

We must not forget that the world was created by God’s love or that he gave Jesus as a sacrifice for all mankind. HOPE and JOY are found in God’s word. John 3:17 is reassuring. “For God did not send Jesus His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” So be hopeful and joyful in what God has done. God bless you, and Merry Christmas! 

Gifts from God ~ Hope, Patience and Faith

We don’t often recover quickly from disaster or trauma or in ways we believe to be reasonable. Physical and emotional wounds heal differently and in a time frame that might be unpredictable. Recovery from grief and sorrow depends on our perception and response to what has been lost or taken from us.

  

God’s word offers wonderful instructions for coping with an uncertain future. Listen for a moment to God’s way to celebrate his gift of Christ Jesus. “Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation and faithful in prayer.”  Please receive these gifts of HOPE, PATIENCE and FAITH, for you are blessed with God’s love. Merry Christmas!

  

  

Gifts from God ~ Hope and Peace

Hope is a wonderful gift to receive, especially when the moment is dark and the future obscure. Hope is made possible by even the smallest degree of trust that whatever is encountered, God’s presence will ensure all things work together for our good. God’s gift of hope generates peace for the present moment and for the future.

Wounds inflicted to your heart and soul seek recovery and healing. Hope made possible by your faith believes God will heal those wounds. His purpose in sending Christ Jesus was not only to save you but to provide grace and mercy for every situation. God’s gifts of HOPE and PEACE are for you to receive and cherish.  Merry Christmas and God bless you!  

Gifts from God ~ Hope and Faith

Sixteen months after Hurricane Harvey, recovery is still in process, maybe not so much from the physical aspect of the disaster, but from emotional stress caused by grief and uncertainty. We do our best to avoid trials and struggles by pretending or wishing they did not exist or promising to address the issue later.

 
    
             Even as we’re forced to face problems, God promises you hope for now and the future. It’s possible to rejoice when facing struggles by realizing God is present to help and sustain you. As you receive God’s gifts of FAITH and HOPE, be assured His provisions are adequate. God bless you with hope as you celebrate His gift of Christ Jesus. Merry Christmas! 

Facing God's Reality

When it was time for Jacob to return to his homeland, he packed up and left his father-in-law’s home by making a hasty retreat in the middle of the night. Jacob feared his father-in-law, who was self-centered, controlling and manipulative. Leah and Rachel could not trust their father to be fair and respectful.

  

When Laban heard of their departure, he was sad and angry. He had been outwitted, deceived and abandoned. Laban refused to ask himself, "What did I do to cause this response from my daughters and son-in-law?" Self-examination is crucial to healthy relationships. Lamentations 3:40 advises, "Let us examine our ways and test them."

Refusal to engage in self-examination leads to blaming others for our pain and problems. After learning of Jacob’s departure, Laban set out to bring them back, but God had other plans. Laban had to face reality. He had lost control of Jacob and his family. Now he was forced to face himself and the reality of God’s power, mercy and love.

A Dreamer and His Redeemer

Jacob's father-in-law was determined to keep him dependent. After twenty years Jacob finally obtained enough wealth to follow God’s command to return to his homeland. Jacob's future was in God's hands, but still he managed to create a crisis where only by God's intervention could he be rescued.

          God was at work in Jacob’s life to help him build a bridge to faith in Himself, a God who speaks and does what he says. God spoke to Jacob in dreams and through angels to get his attention. He wanted Jacob to know he was a God who meant business, a God who loved and cared for him and would protect him.

          God told Jacob to "Go back to the land of your father and I will be with you." Still Jacob could not do what God told him without provocation or deception. His wife Rachel followed Jacob’s lead and stole her father's household gods to take on the journey. However, God will never permit deception to go unnoticed because it’s sinful. God’s purpose is to redeem, to set free from bondage all who are willing to be set free. 

Faith: A Bridge to Survival

Jacob had a significant dream when he was running for his life. God promised him he would protect him, bless him, and bring him back to his homeland. Jacob believed God, which gave him confidence to endure the hard times that were to come his way. The power of faith God entrusted to Jacob built a bridge that guaranteed his survival.

Believing in your heart and mind that God is you friend, your redeemer and protector encourages a resilience that withstands defeat.  Laban, Jacob's father-in-law, changed his wages ten times over twenty years.  Each time they agreed on a wage Laban changed the rules, so Jacob was always indebted to him.

Jacob was assured of God’s faithfulness when in his dream God reminded him, "I am the God of Bethel where you built an altar and anointed it with oil in reverence to me and where you made vows to me. Now leave this land and return to your homeland.” God doesn't overlook our flaws, but sin’s penalty is superseded by his grace, his unmerited pardon, and his mercy.

Becoming a Person of Faith

When Jacob left his home to escape the wrath of his brother Esau, his work habits would change dramatically though he would remain a manipulator. For twenty years he managed his father-in-law’s livestock. Now he was ready to make the six hundred-mile trek back home, but he expected to be rewarded for those twenty years of hard work.

As he prepared to leave, he planned to swindle his father-in-law and felt justified to do so. For twenty years he had developed the skill of breeding livestock and had used that skill for his benefit. He proposed to take every specifically colored animal with him back to his homeland as payment for his labor.

Jacob’s plan was to outwit his father-in-law, who had taken advantage of his management skills for twenty years. However, God had placed Jacob in a position where he would be manipulated for someone else's benefit. God’s purpose for Jacob was for him to change, to grow and become a man of faith so he could be a true blessing to others.

Make Me a Blessing to God and Others

Living life so you can be a blessing to others is a treasure of great value. Listen to the prayer of Jabez from 1 Chronicles 4:9 as he asks God for such a blessing. "Oh, that you would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that your hand would be with me to keep me from evil, so that I might not cause pain to others."

 

Jacob had been a source of pain to his family of origin. Following his forced exodus from his home, he had spent twenty years working for his father-in-law. Perhaps he had matured by facing the responsibilities of work, two wives, two surrogate wives, eleven sons and one daughter.

Jacob would prove to be a blessing to his father-in-law, yet the time came when he was ready to face his past so he could move forward with his life.  Perhaps God communicated to him, "I have plans for you, so get your mind focused on what lies ahead." Jacob's future included being a blessing to God. Is God nudging you onward so you can be a blessing to Him and others?

From the Known to the Unknown

Moving from the known to the unknown takes determination and courage. God asked Abraham to leave all that was familiar and go to a place He would reveal to him as he was on his way. What would you think and feel if God were to ask you to embark on such an outrageous journey at this time in your life?

 

Rare is the person who wants to stay home indefinitely. As a late adolescent, I had it in my heart to get as far away as possible from the small farming community where I grew up. I did not hate my family or community; I just needed to leave. My parents thought this was the worst decision I could possibly make, but it helped me mature and discover God’s purpose for me.

Jacob could have lived out his life in Haran with his father-in-law, but God's plan meant moving from the known to the unknown. God calls us to make this step for a significant purpose. The challenges are great and demand faith; yet God, without exception, equips us with hope and faith for making the journey.

Being a Blessing & Being Blessed

Chapters twenty-nine and thirty of Genesis list the birth order of twelve of Jacob’s thirteen children. Leah gave birth to six boys and one girl. Leah's maidservant Zilpah gave birth to two more sons while Rachel's maidservant Bilhah also had two sons. Rachel had one son she named Joseph.

The jealousy Rachel had for Leah ended with the birth of Joseph. Later Rachel would die immediately after giving birth to Benjamin. Twenty years had passed since Jacob came to live with his uncle. Now it was time to return home and make peace with his brother Esau. He knew that making amends for his deceitful dealings with his brother was a necessity.

Jacob was a source of blessing to his father-in-law by giving him thirteen grandchildren and by increasing his wealth many times over. Of course, the father-in-law wanted Jacob to stay with him because he was such a blessing. The lesson to learn from Jacob’s experience is that as you serve and bless others, God will bless you.

From Jealousy to Generosity

Even the noblest person is subject to jealousy when circumstances become threatening. To be generous and noble toward someone who is the object of jealousy requires sincere acts of generosity to diminish its power. Jealousy is shameful because its objective is another's misery, which violates God’s law to love one another.

          The motivation for overcoming jealousy and envy is to avoid thoughts and acts of malice. Malice is a state of mind that seeks pain, suffering and injury to others. These behaviors result in guilt, and guilt demands pardon and forgiveness. 

          To be liberated from jealousy and envy requires a process of being made new spiritually in one's mind. Only as you permit your mind to be transformed by the saving power of Christ Jesus can you experience being made new. The Apostle Paul instructed us to be imitators of Christ Jesus, meaning to give ourselves to others as Jesus gave himself up for us. 

Not Succeeding When Competing

The purpose of jealousy is to hold on desperately to what might be lost. Jealousy fears being overshadowed by a competitor and seen as insignificant. Even the slightest hint of jealousy indicates that negative perceptions of oneself have begun to set off a reactive chain of behaviors that will prove unproductive.   

  

          A young woman told how her sister and brother-in-law bought the most expensive home in her neighborhood. While one part of her brain was sincerely glad such good fortune had come to her sister, another part was envious, jealous and angry. These feelings of jealousy resurrected a competitiveness that had originated in childhood.  

          It's critical that you find godly ways to express wholesome and sincere generosity toward the one of whom you feel jealous. You can be generous by expressing love and affection as well as acts of goodness which demonstrate nobleness of character. As you allow the Holy Spirit to work and use these gifts in you, jealousy will eventually diminish.

The Great Wall of Contempt

Jealous thoughts and feelings are complex and contradictory. On the surface jealousy and love seem to be interwoven together, but when love is battered with incessant jealousy, love and trust began to diminish. However, jealousy may not die along with love but continue to trouble both the carrier and the person to whom jealousy is directed.

 

Jealousy eventually builds a wall of contempt against the accuser because of incessant questioning and accusations that portray deep-seated weaknesses which are the building blocks of contempt. It's important to note that contempt is often present in both the accused and the accuser.

Weaknesses of personality create distrust and jealousy, but strength for coping with this powerful mindset is found in God's Word. Listen for a moment. "My grace is sufficient for you. My power is made perfect in weaknesses." Why not let God's grace strengthen you with power to overcome your frailty? This is the channel for deliverance from the power of jealousy.

Create Jealousy: Mission Accomplished

The fact that jealousy distorts reality is well known by those whose objective is to make others feel its pain. A woman confided to her friend, “If I want my husband to get in line, all I have to do is make him jealous.” Deliberately creating jealousy is dishonest and seldom achieves a worthy goal. Deliberately creating jealousy is also sinful.

 

There’s always danger of going too far in creating jealousy. Anyone deliberately made to feel jealous will know the pain of abandonment and distrust. Distrust eventually causes love to diminish and lose its power to control. Eventually jealousy leads to revenge and permanent withdrawal from a relationship; then grief comes to all involved.

A college student recounted how she lost her boyfriend when she made him feel jealous. "All I wanted to do was make sure he loved me. Now he will not let me apologize or forgive me." Jealousy is not kind, gentle or patient. It is not filled with joy, long-suffering or self-control, but God’s love and true love include all of these. 

Distorted Reality

Jealousy distorts the way we think, feel and believe. When David killed Goliath, Saul the king appointed him to a high position in the army. As David continued to prove himself in battle and the people began to sing his praises, Saul believed David was after his kingdom. Prompted by jealousy, Saul tried to kill him on several occasions.

As Saul’s thinking patterns became distorted by jealousy, David became his enemy instead of a faithful servant who loved and honored him. Resentment allied with jealousy made it possible for the king’s mind to distort just about everything in his world. Resentment is closely related to fear, and fear adds fuel to the fire of jealousy.

Saul failed to understand that he could be loved and respected on his own merits. Galatians 5:22 encourages us to permit the Holy Spirit to diminish the impact of jealousy. The Holy Spirit's power produces love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Why not yield to that power now?  

Subdue the Green-Eyed Monster

Jealousy is difficult to own because it's perceived as a weakness. To recognize jealousy as a weakness is to own feelings of insecurity. In the play Othello, Shakespeare labeled jealousy as a green-eyed monster. Othello killed his wife because he wrongly believed she was unfaithful. Does that sound familiar?

Jealousy is like a green-eyed monster because it distorts a person’s imagination or relationship. A man sees a stranger talking to his wife at a party. If he feels insecure, jealousy surges forth. He can only imagine what they're talking about, and it’s here where distortion becomes allied with jealousy, giving credibility to the green-eyed monster.

St. Paul teaches in Romans 13:14 to fight jealousy by clothing yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ. This means surrendering all you are and all you have to Christ Jesus, including the object of your jealousy. Then take on his virtues of love, trust, truth and humility. Only this will subdue the green-eyed monster known as jealousy. 

Where Jealousy Festers, Reconciliation Is Required

The renowned anthropologist Margaret Mead described jealousy as a festering spot in every personality that includes a negative undesirable attitude. You would think a smart achieving person would not succumb to jealousy, but everyone has areas where superiority cannot overshadow feelings of inferiority.

A friend related how astonished she was by a family member’s jealous behavior that surfaced whenever she came to visit. This friend is intelligent, a good host capable of doing whatever it takes to avoid conflict. However, when her relative came to visit, happy times evaporated as spiteful barbs and jibes were expressed.

My friend decided to e-mail her relative seeking a resolution. She spelled out what she observed to be the issue. She encouraged her relative to give suggestions for a resolution. They agreed to work toward reconciliation and forgiveness. Patience and courage were required, but knowing God would honor and bless their efforts was encouraging.

Flames of Jealousy

Saying jealousy is a strong emotion is like saying water will quench thirst. Solomon's Song of Songs describes jealousy as "unyielding as the grave. It burns like a blazing fire, like a mighty flame.” Even children use it to provoke anger or tears. Adults use it to try to reignite sagging interest in a relationship.

Jealousy can surface uninvited. A friend or colleague gets a promotion to a prestigious position. You smile, offer congratulations, but jealousy flows with a vengeance. To combat jealousy, force yourself to face the truth. Your colleague is better suited for the job. Her personality qualified her for the position.

As I accept the truth, the freer I become to let go of jealousy. When I pray sincerely for God to bless someone with success and make myself rejoice in their good fortune, the greater are my chances of finding inner peace. Warm, affectionate love and godly affirmations douse the flames of jealousy.  

Jealousy: the Opposite of Love

Jealousy can be mistaken for love, but jealousy is the opposite of love. It does not desire the well-being of someone apart from the jealous person. Jealousy demands dependency and prohibits the right to choose what is threatening that dependency. Jealousy’s objective is to triumph over what’s threatening.

Jealously is two-faced. One side presents a heart of love. The other side permits anger and rage to take control. This split was reflected in O.J. Simpson's statement concerning his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson's death. He said, "Let's say I committed this crime. Even if I did it, it was because I loved her, right?”

Jealousy is not love. "Love is patient and kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. Love is not rude, nor self-seeking. It is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices in the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres." Jealously and love are not the same. 

God's Jealousy Gives Freedom

Some people rationalize their jealousy by saying God can be jealous, as Exodus 20:5 testifies: "I am a jealous God." Psalm 79:5 questions, "How long, O Lord, will your jealousy burn like fire?” While God is capable of jealousy, he manages it so that only his perfect will is acknowledged.

When God experiences jealousy, he does not feel threatened. God is all-powerful, all-caring and all-loving without flaws. Jealousy in human beings can be sinful to the core, for jealousy refuses to accept the rights of others to think, feel and behave differently.

Conversely, God's love permits us to choose differently from his plan and purpose for us. Our jealousy is in direct conflict with another person's freedom to choose to be different from what our jealousy demands. As God gives us freedom, he expects us to extend that freedom to others. This is possible only as we trust Christ Jesus to give us confidence and faith.

Let It Go – Let God Repay

Jealousy interferes with the capacity to think logically, for its motives are wrong and sinful. Rachel desperately wanted children, so she gave her maidservant Bilhah to her husband Jacob as a surrogate wife to have children in her place. In the strictest sense, this was permissible according to the ethics of the day. Spiritually, it was not acceptable because anger and jealousy existed in Rachel’s heart for her sister Leah.

Rachel wanted to get even with Leah, so when Bilhah conceived and gave birth to two sons, Rachel proclaimed God had heard her plea. However, when jealousy is the motivating factor behind any behavior, God does not approve.

Jealousy overrules love and logic. If jealousy is occupying a place in your heart, let it go by asking God to bless the person that’s the object of the jealousy. This is how you turn it over to God. He emphatically states: "Vengeance is mine. I will repay." Believe God and trust Him.

Chasing the Winds of Jealousy and Envy

The pursuit of jealousy’s demands is comparable to chasing the wind. Can you imagine someone chasing the wind, trying to capture it for some emotional purpose? Solomon observed that "all labor and all achievements spring from man's jealousy of his neighbors." He added, “This is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.” 

Rachel's jealousy pushed her to outdo her sister, win at any cost, even destroying the bond of love that may have existed. Jealousy moves in progressive steps, spiraling ever upward, gaining intensity and power over rational and sensible thinking. When jealousy spirals into rage, turning back may become impossible.

It's critical to get immediate control of jealousy. Jealousy can be managed, so never let the sun go down harboring it in your thoughts and feelings. Acknowledge its presence and root by confessing it, then repent and turn away from it. Seek forgiveness by turning it over to God. He will heal you of this sickness.

 

I Demand to Win!

Jealousy's demands are powerful enough to be destructive. The news media features distraught individuals who in a state of rage kill someone because they want what they cannot have. Objectivity is lost when the jealous person believes the heart, soul, mind and body of another person belong to them. 

          Jealousy demands satisfaction no matter how absurd the demand may be. The goal is to win by causing hurt and pain to others. Rachel was barren but determined to have children by whatever means possible. She felt overshadowed by her sister Leah, so she gave Bilhah her maid-servant to Jacob to have children in her place.

          When Bilhah gave birth to two baby boys, Rachel clearly identified her jealousy. Listen as she justifies her actions and feelings: "God has vindicated me. He has listened to my plea. I had a great struggle with my sister and I have won.” Jealousy does not care about other people’s rights, making it contrary to God's plan and purpose. 

Jealousy's Grip

Jealousy serves many purposes, and most are basically negative. It's possible that every person will stoop to jealousy. The reason is that no one's self-esteem is perfect, so self-esteem parallels the degree of jealousy felt and acted upon. Cain killed his brother Abel because Abel’s offering was acceptable to God, while his was rejected.

  

If Cain's self-esteem had been healthier, perhaps he could have asked his brother to help him understand what he needed to do to make himself acceptable to God. Jealousy is dangerous because it can set you on a course of behavior that is irreversible. When objectivity is lost, a person is at the mercy of raw instincts and emotions.

In a fit of jealousy Rachel lost her objectivity and blamed Jacob because she was unable to become pregnant, which hurt and angered Jacob. Think clearly about jealousy’s demands and release those demands to the Lord God. Do it until you are released from jealousy. You will feel at peace with God, yourself and others.

A Green-Eyed Monster Called Jealousy

Jealousy is a common emotion experienced by everyone at some level. It's an emotion few people would endorse or boast about. Those who experience it often feel shame especially when it gets out of hand.  If a relationship is believed to be in danger, exaggerated jealousy may surface with rage and a fiery vengeance.

          Rachel felt jealous when her sister Leah could have children for Jacob while she remained barren.  Fostered by a lack of trust that she would ever conceive, Rachel persuaded Jacob to have children with her maid- servant.  Sound familiar?  Now jealousy has become the equalizer in a situation rather than trust in God’s plan and purpose. 

          As jealousy gains a foothold, it leaves little room for faith and trust. Jealousy is obsessed with thinking and feeling just one way.  To escape, force yourself to focus on Romans 12:2.  God’s word instructs you to be transformed by renewing your mind by the power of Christ Jesus in you.  Ask Jesus to transform you now.

Beware of Emotional Traps

Rachel was unable to have children and became consumed with doubts about herself and frustrated with Jacob for being unable to make her pregnant. To add to her frustrations, she had fallen into an emotional trap of comparing herself with her sister Leah, who had given birth to four baby boys.

The reason comparisons are a trap is that the results are most always negative and one-sided. However, Rachel was unable to comprehend Leah’s personal unhappiness caused by not being loved by her husband. While children bring joy, they never substitute for the love of a husband or wife.

Both Rachel's and Leah’s unhappiness paralleled each other's, and these negative comparisons made it impossible for them to comfort one another. Rachel’s jealousy of Leah also made it impossible for her to find joy in nurturing Leah’s four little boys, who were her nephews. The troubled heart must be turned over to Christ Jesus, the Great Physician, for hope and healing can be found in him. This is my prayer for you.

The Best Balancing Act

When Leah gave birth to four sons for Jacob, her sister Rachel went into a panic because she herself was unable to conceive. One sure way a woman could please her husband was to give birth to sons, which insured security and feelings of fulfillment. Rachel’s desperation is expressed in Genesis 30. "When she could not conceive, she became jealous and said to Jacob, ‘Give me children or I will die.’"

Have you had similar feelings longing for something so special and fulfilling that nothing else could surpass its value? Rachel's passion for a child consumed her. She couldn't let it go. Giving birth to a baby was essential to her identity and sense of mental health. She desperately needed to feel equal to her sister.

T. S. Eliot believed that nothing was more important than thinking appropriately well of oneself. However, the apostle Paul admonishes us not to think higher of ourselves than we should. What helps you from going overboard is balancing what Christ has done for you and what you’ve committed to him.

Yes, But – I Want It Now!

Getting what you want is a privilege most responsible people enjoy. God's timing, however, may be different from your immediate timetable. This can be frustrating to the point of your making the mistake of plunging ahead determined to make things happen, but then suffering the consequences of impatience. To persevere includes exerting self-control and waiting for God’s timing.

 

Rachel appears to be a vibrant young woman capable of hard work and dependability. Jacob first met her at a well where she came to water her flock of sheep and goats. In addition to being energetic and assertive, she was attractive. Rachel exhibited a toughness of character that demonstrated she could handle responsibility.

 

Rachel also displayed self-control by waiting seven years for Jacob, the man she loved. Tough personalities can have weaknesses that make them vulnerable to hurt and pain. It's at this place where perseverance is required, where you realize God’s grace is adequate to cover your weaknesses. Then you can gratefully say, “Thank you, Lord Jesus.”