From the Journal . . . . July 1997

Lord, I was down last night.  We went to the baseball game with the youth group. It was fun but afterwards I saw some of the kids going to Dairy Queen and I got jealous because our family wasn’t invited.  I felt left out and rejected by them on behalf of my kids, and I felt myself becoming critical and defensive.  Lord, it’s frustrating that it matters to me, because that’s the flesh. It’s the sin nature in me.

And I Believe God Said:

Bingo!

Lord, how can I not feed the flesh and those evil tendencies? 

My first thought was to avoid those situations.

You stay and don’t run away.  Give each pout to Me.  Reach out in love to others and don’t expect anything in return.  This is not the time to run.  You want to because you feel rejected, but I want you to stay.  Be tenacious. Look for others that may feel outcast and reach out to them, without rejecting those who you feel have rejected you.

1 Cor 13:5 (Love) does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, NASB95

Eph 4: 31-32 Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. ³² Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one

Romans 12:17-18 Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men. ¹⁸ If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men. 

As I read this, it is so familiar!  The Lord has conveyed this message to me many times. They say people have this flight or fight tendency when threatened. I’m not much of a fighter and I usually want to run away when I feel hurt, but the Lord tells me over and over to stay. I love the church fellowship we have been in for over forty-five years. However, there have been several times when I have wanted to leave because of offenses or hurt feelings on my part. Yet the Lord has never let me do that. He’s told me before, and I am still reminded, to confess hurts to Him and forgive where necessary. I think He began this training early in my marriage and then applied it to other relationships as well. His ways are always best.