Several Ways to Make Yourself Miserable
1. Count your troubles, name them one by one–at the breakfast table, if anybody will listen, or as soon as possible thereafter.
2. Worry every day about something. Don’t let yourself get out of practice. It won’t add a cubit to your stature but it might burn a few calories.
3. Pity yourself. If you do enough of this, nobody else will have to do it for you.
4. Devise clever but decent ways to serve God and mammon. After all, a man’s gotta live.
5. Make it your business to find out what the Joneses are buying this year and where they’re going. Try to do them at least one better even if you have to take out another loan to do it.
6. Stay away from absolutes. It’s what’s right for you that matters. Be your own person and don’t allow yourself to get hung up on what others expect of you.
7. Make sure you get your rights. Never mind other people’s. You have your life to live, they have theirs.
8. Don’t fall into any compassion traps–the sort of situation where people can walk all over you. If you get too involved in other people’s troubles, you may neglect your own.
9. Don’t let Bible reading and prayer get in the way of what’s really relevant–things like TV and newspapers. Invisible things are eternal. You want to stick with the visible ones–they’re where it’s at now.
Wow, after reading that you should be feeling much better now. Seriously, we are supposed to expect some level of difficulties in our lives. Those who seek God’s purpose for their lives will find it, but they will also find trials and many challenges along the way. The Bible promises us that troubles will come, but it also clearly states (with assurance) that our Heavenly Father will be there to lead us through. It’s how we grow spiritually. Romans 5:3 states, “Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.” If we didn’t have those rocky times we wouldn’t appreciate the smooth ones.
Elisabeth Elliot is an accomplished author, missionary and biblical scholar. She uses the practicality of life and draws from her own experiences to share the message of salvation to women and men. For over 50 years, her best selling books, timeless teachings and unwavering faith have influenced believers and seekers of Jesus Christ throughout the world. I enjoy reading her daily devotions and you can find many more on here.
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