Blinded…
Earlier this year as we read through the Unglued Devotional, I confessed a struggle I was facing. For months now I have harbored envy in my heart. God is helping me through this selfish stage but every now and then it surfaces in a big way. God is so faithful to come to aid!
Today, He empowered me with a verse I had never really noticed before. I absolutely love when God surprises me like that!!! Maybe this verse will encourage you today.
“Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him. This is my rule in all the churches.” 1 Corinthians 7:17 ESV
God has assignment for everyone. When I sit around longing for the assignment someone else has I miss the life He has assigned for me. I wonder what I have missed because envy has stolen my sight.
I am SO guilty of envy – at times it overtakes good common sense, and I begin to micromanage everything and try to hurry things along to ‘achieve’ – what? It leaves me with a guilty feeling, a dirty feeling, and questioning myself ‘where did contentment and acceptance go?’ Sad at this stage not to be able to fully accept God’s portions assigned to me and to wait on Him.
My prayer today and for all the tomorrows is “Lord forgive me – don’t give up on me. My anxiety is great, support me with Your love, and bring acceptance and joy to my soul through Your great mercy”.
Thank you for sharing Wendy, and allowing us to express ourselves. You are brilliant as usual.
“God has assignment for everyone. When I sit around longing for the assignment someone else has I miss the life He has assigned for me. I wonder what I have missed because envy has stolen my sight.”
WOW I never thought of it that way, that is so powerful Wendy, thanks for this post and verse. I love it!!! Lots to chew on with this one!! God bless you 🙂
Ok, were you sitting in my bible study yesterday… we were discussing envy in relation to spiritual gifts – Romans 12. It was a spin off from 1 Peter 2-3 regarding living our lives humbling ourselves… Paul discussed in Romans how we each have different gifts and we should use them in the proportion to the faith given to us. We then traveled down a rabbit hole discussing our gifts and how some didn’t like the gift they were given-been there, done that. BUT, it was then, that some would speak up and encourage the others how they loved that gift in that person…. I love when the Spirit takes over like that…. I agree with JFlorine, and your comment “… I wonder what I have missed because envy has stolen my sight.”
Thank you for sharing, Wendy, you always make me think about my walk and reaffirm what God is trying to teach me. HUGS!
Yeah i have the gift of evangelism..but i wanted to b a mamma and have a house full o kids. I guess bc i was always told i was not good enough. So i dont have a house full of kids i dont even have a dog. But i got an opportunity to travel So im trying to b thankful.
Im there i dont like the life Hes assigned to me. I want someone elses why bc my life has been filled with sorrow and honestly im resentful at God like i have this sorrowfilled life and you want me to b happy. I was abused growing up and i still have not gotten over seeing others who had not been abused and somehow feeling shortchanged theres a deep sense of discontent that never went away so instead of being happy with what God has allowed im not happy.
Lord, I lift up lis to You now. Only You know all the details of the life she has lived and the adventure You have planned before her. Her sorrow is deep, but I know Your love is so much deeper. Penetrate the hurt, and turn it into joyful celebration. Send lis unexpected encouragement, that she can’t deny could only come for You. And give her that special glimpse into Heaven that only those with deep sorrow can see and experience. Lord I’m lifting her now, before your throne and placing her in your loving arms, so that she might sense Your presence and feel Your comforting arms around her. Take the sins that have been committed against her and break the chains that are holding her back from being able to forgive. Send her freedom from her past and give her vision into the future You have planned for her. Hear, O Lord the cries of her tender heart and renew the spirit within her. Let her know You’ve heard those desperate cries and turn all this sadness into joy. You, Lord are a faithful, loving and just God, who protects Your children, so make lis deaf to the shouts of the enemy in her ear and only let her hear the sweet whispers of Your truth. Turn now the tide of this battle that is raging in lis, and pour out Your peace upon her. I ask this all in the powerful name of our Savior, Defender, and Lover of our Souls, Jesus Christ. Amen!
It’s not that I actually envy anyone else’s assignment (I love that way of describing it!) But sometimes I am judgemental of others when I should butt out. I think I know best but we all have to travel our own journey to and with the Lord! Dear Father, please help me to keep my eyes looking up to you and not downward at anybody else. I ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen
This verse has been very helpful for me, Thanks! Lis lifting a prayer for you, don’t give up, keep seeking God and His Holy Word. God’s timing is perfect.