Leaving The Party Behind - The One Year Uncommon Life Daily Challenge
Leaving the Party Behind
Elijah replied, “I have zealously served the LORD God Almighty. But the people of Israel have broken their covenant with you, torn down your altars, and killed every one of your prophets. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me, too.” 1 Kings 19:10
There Elijah sat. The poor prophet felt oppressed. Things were on a definite downturn for him. He was wallowing in self-pity. We’ve all been there. Maybe several times, maybe recently.
No?
Weren’t you walking around recently in a daze with an expression on your face revealing a definite lack of joy in your heart? Someone you love had said something to you that broke your heart. Or perhaps you were the one who felt that because of a bad break or a rotten childhood, the world owed you something. Elijah would have taken one if it had been offered. Well, you’d both be waiting for a long time for that to happen.
Or perhaps a member of your family who followed her heart has found that the grass is not as green as she expected and you are getting an earful. Tough luck or wrong choice, huh? Maybe neither. Have you or those you love considered that God may have you planted exactly where He intended for you to be, but the rain and wind are blowing so hard you can’t see His bigger picture at the moment? Yet you haven’t turned on the wipers or decided to pick yourself up and throw yourself back into the fray. Instead you’ve quit and created your own little pity party while the opportunity He has given you passes from the scene and is forever wasted.
My suggestion is that you take the advice others have given me through the years—get over it and be the person God intended for you to be. Step out of the self-centered focus that Elijah was swirling in, to one that perhaps, just perhaps, can help change the world around you.
Uncommon Key > Pity parties are never attended by many—just one. Take off the party hat and leave. God has too much for you to do.
The One Year Uncommon Life Daily Challenge
By Tony Dungy and Nathan Whitaker
Tyndale
$7.99