You may have heard the term “Glorification of Busy”. There are dozens of articles written about this idea, of being “too busy” to make time for God. Being too busy to focus on friendships and opportunities for sharing Christ. That’s not my focus today, but I think about it often. I get caught up in everything I have to do and all of the people I want to see. I mean, there’s a whole world out there that needs saving. That adds a lot of weight to one’s shoulders.

Last night, as I went to bed, I was frustrated. I was upset with school and people and generally lacking vision for the future. The grand pity party I was throwing for myself was taking its toll on me and I was disappointed. I remembered a text from my mom and opened my bible to some verses she had told me to read:

“Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other, as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” Col. 3:12-17

I was immediately ashamed. Do you ever read your bible because you’ve been a miserable mess and the second you start reading you’re convicted for being a miserable mess in the light of who the Father is? That’s what happened to me. I have not been compassionate, patient, and forgiving. Instead I’ve been holding on to negative feelings. I often thank God for His forgiveness and grace but I don’t extend it to others. I wallow in my disappointment but don’t grasp my Father’s hand and ask him for His peace to rule in my heart.

I am a broken and imperfect human. I glorify my disappointment. When others are upset I remind them of the peace of Christ and encourage them to find comfort and rest in Him, but I forget when I’m in the same position.

What can I take away from this? How do I react differently the next time I’m experiencing disappointment? In times of realization like this, I remember my desire to be like Christ and to dwell in Him and his love every day. I consider how much I need His word and time in prayer every day to help me with my imperfection. I need to wake up and start each day on the right page- a page marked with beautiful words of life, love, peace and worth in Christ Jesus.

I’m thankful for the difficult weeks when I’m overloaded and tired because they focus my priorities  on where they should be. Though they may be painful, I come out stronger and ready to accomplish great things in the name of Christ.

Dear heavenly Father, thank you for who You are. Thank you for your forgiveness and for being my rock. I pray that I would desire time with you every day and that I would continue to grow and become more Christlike. Let me not dwell in disappointments and struggles but glorify You in all aspects of my life. My heart is Yours, God. Show me Your will. I love you. In Your holy name I pray, amen.