I planned for the family, including my two adult daughters living at home, to go to church on Palm Sunday. I envisioned a happy family outing with the five of us in the car together. I did not think I was asking for much. At the last minute, everything went wrong. My oldest daughter announced that she was waiting for her friend and would meet us there. My other daughter came in late from work and jumped in her own car so she could leave from church to meet a friend. The youngest one complained about going. None of this was in “my plan.” I got upset and said I was not going to go under those circumstances. So we did not go. Later, I began to regret that no one went to church because of my actions. Then another emotion soon took over…

Self-pity. Like Job, I began to feel sorry for myself. These thoughts went through my mind: “No one cares what I want. I work so hard for everyone. They could have done this little thing for me. I have a rotten deal. Being a mom isn’t worth it.” I even planned to pout so they would know they hurt me.

If we are truthful, we can admit we all have times when we succumb to the temptation to indulge in self-pity. The problem with self-pity is that we blow our troubles out of proportion, completely take our eyes off God, justify our own sin, refuse to look at our part in the problem, view ourselves as victims, and sabotage a healthy resolution.

If you have to sit on your “pity pot,” do it, but give yourself a short time to be there. Get it out of your system. Feel sorry for yourself for 15 minutes, then get up and do what you need to do to take care of your part in whatever is bothering you.

By Karla Downing

Relationship Devotional Prayer

 
God,

Help me to resist the temptation to blow things out of proportion and give in to self-pity. Help me to be willing to admit my part in the problems and do what I need to do to make things better instead of feeling sorry for myself.

Relationship Devotional Challenge

• Identify an area of your life where you engage in self-pity. Instead of feeling sorry for yourself, do one thing to improve that area of your life.

Scripture Meditation

 
Job 6:1-3

“Then Job replied: ‘If only my anguish could be weighed and all my misery be placed on the scales! It would surely outweigh the sand of the seas–no wonder my words have been impetuous’” (NIV).