instead...rejoice.

today i was faced with the frustration of having to figure out how to do something for myself that someone else failed to do.

we've all been there, right? someone else didn't come through for you, so you have to fend for yourself in a crunch. it's aggravating. it's frustrating. it can be downright wrath-inducing.

so here i am, trying to finish up preparations for this meeting in europe (that i'm not going to - make me do all the work, then jet off to belgium and leave me here - but wha'ev. i'm not bitter...).
and, at the request of a co-worker, i needed this guy here to do something for me so that i could complete my prep work. and he ignored my request. and history has taught me that this guy likes to do things in his own time, when he gets good and ready, regardless of your deadline.

and i'm the type of person that really doesn't like to ask twice. not because i'm too good to ask a second time, but because i hate feeling like i'm bothering people. it makes me uncomfortable, and this guy in particular is not the nicest, most approachable person. so after i never heard back from him, i just said forget it - i'll figure it out on my own.

so, of course, knowing that i can't do anything on my own, i prayed for the Lord to help me.

and help me He did. minutes later, i had what i needed, sans the mean guy who ignored my requests.

so, i was sitting here in brief worship-zone, thanking and praising God for always coming through for me, even in the pettiest of matters (i mean, He has more pressing things to do all over the world, than to be helping me out with little work problems. yet He's never too imperial. so much Love.)

and even though i was in the middle of being genuinely thankful for God's help, my gratefulness was tagging right along with resentment and frustration - at the guy who didn't help me. on one hand, i'm saying, "thank you Lord for being my ever-present Helper, and never leaving my side," and on the other hand, i'm saying, "man...that guy gets on my nerves...his whole disposition REEKS."

and i immediately felt convicted. God, in that moment, laid it on my heart to not dwell on how others have failed me, but to just use all of my heart to rejoice in the knowledge that God will never fail me. that was quite a revelation for me, because i know i do that ALL THE TIME. someone will hurt me, disappoint or frustrate me, and God will step in and save the day, as usual. and right after i thank Him for being there, i dwell in my anger that the other person wasn't there.

why is that?

so God reminded me that men are men, women are women, people are people. God is God. no matter who they are, people have the capacity to let you down. that doesn't mean that you should walk around bitter and cynical towards everyone - absolutely not! but it DOES mean that you have to realistically understand that your expectations, your faith, your trust, should rest in God and God alone, for He never fails.

and instead of becoming consumed with anguish and resentment because this person or that person failed you, just rejoice that God came through. just spend your heart's energy rejoicing and worshiping Him for being there, for being love, for being kind, for being merciful. forget about what human failed you - be grateful to them even, for their failures caused you to once again witness the awesome power of God and His presence.

it's hard to achieve that sometimes - i tend to dwell on things. when someone doesn't come through for me, or ignores me, it hurts. and i get angry or feel resentful. so when God opened my eyes to that, it was...well, an eye-opener, lol. and right there, i lifted all of those negative feelings up to Him. and with the extra room in my heart, i had more room to praise and thank Him.

what a valuable lesson to learn, thanks be to God.

see, there really are opportunities to grow every. single. day. just gotta be open to them.

i'm better today than i was yesterday. how awesome is that!