How does humbling yourself change everything? From my personal experience, when I am humble, I have less conflict. Still I struggle with this daily. Today, we have award-winning author Tricia Goyer sharing her #walkitout story on my blog and promoting her new book "Walk It Out"!
How Humbling Yourself In Your Time of
Need Changes Everything
by Tricia Goyer
The
other day I was cooking dinner when my six-year-old son rushed into the
kitchen.
Beads
of sweat slid down his red face. “I’m so hot. You never get me anything to
drink.”
I
stirred my spaghetti sauce with one hand as I turned to him. “Excuse me?”
His
voice rose in a full, high-pitched whine. “You never give me anything to
drink!” He waved his hands and dropped to the floor.
I
took in a breath and then released in, telling myself to keep my voice steady,
calm. “I’d be happy to get you a drink. I just need you to ask.”
He
kicked his foot against the floor. “But I want a drink now!”
“I
know you do.” I peered down at him. “And as soon as you ask the right way I’m
happy to get some ice cold water.”
And
then my son stood, smiled up at me and asked so sweetly for a drink of water …
NOT!
Instead,
he whined and fussed more. Finally, I asked him to leave the kitchen.
You
know what? He never did ask. In fact, he didn’t get anything to drink until
fifteen minutes later when we were sitting down to dinner. He was so bent on
complaining and whining—in feeding his discontent—he didn’t want to release his
control in order to ask me for help. I would have gladly given him the drink he
requested if only he asked in the right away.
Feeding Our Discontent
I wish I could say this is just a
little kid issue, but I’ve been there myself. During my teen years I lived in
that storm of discontent. I complained when things didn’t go my way. I worried.
I fretted. I fought.
I
even took matters into my own hands when I found myself facing an unplanned
pregnancy at age 15. My own fears and worries led me to a choice I now regret—I
had an abortion.
It
wasn’t until years later, at age 17 when I was pregnant again, that things took
a turn for the better. It’s then I humbled myself and turned to God. By
this point I realized the whining, complaining, and acting out wasn’t getting
me what I wanted or needed.
At
six months along, I wrapped my arms around my growing stomach and prayed,
“Lord, if you can do anything with my life, please do.”
God
showed up big time. He not own gave me Himself (which is the best!), He has
also led me on a journey where radical, and wonderful things, have happened.
This has included marrying a wonderful Christian man, having two more kids,
starting a crisis pregnancy center, mentoring teen moms, adopting seven more
children, and writing over 70 books!
God
didn’t just offer me a cup of cool water when I asked. He opened the floodgates
of blessing. But it took me humbling myself and seeking Jesus to meet my
needs.
This
reminds me of a Scripture I was reading just this morning, “I called on your name, LORD, from the depths of the pit.
You heard my plea: ‘Do not close your ears to my cry for relief.’ You came near
when I called you, and you said, ‘Do not fear.’ You, Lord, took up my case; you
redeemed my life,” Lamentations 5:55-58.
Mumbling, complaining and griping is easy, but they
rob us of having our greatest needs met. Yet when we humble ourselves and turn
to God, things will change for the better.
When we call to the Lord, He hears us. When we turn to
Him, He comes. When we call to Him, He reminds us that He is present and we
have no reason to fear. When we place our needs in His court, Jesus redeems our
life.
It took a lot to humble me as a teen—two unplanned
pregnancies in fact. Yet I’m thankful that I learned back then that when I turn
to God He will meet my needs. He will meet them in more wonderful ways
than I ever expected.
You can read more about
how God can show up radically in your life in the book Walk It Out: The
Radical Result of Living God’s Word One Step at a Time (http://amzn.to/2wi1Cwi).
If you pre-order Walk It
Out before October 1, you’ll also receive 30 Days of Prayer as You Walk It
Out FREE! Details here: http://www.triciagoyer.com/walk-it-out/
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