I “stole” part of this post from The Sweetheart! He taught last week when we were in Georgia and mentioned the fact that God didn’t show up to his party. Find out what kind of party we are talking about today!

I love parties.

• Birthdays
• Anniversaries
• Graduations
• Job promotions
• Bon voyage parties
• Super Bowl parties
• Baby gender reveal parties!

The list could go on and on. We love to celebrate just about anything and hold nothing back when we get together to par-tay!

I had a party recently and invited everyone around me. I even invited God. It seemed all of my friends had plans; God didn’t show up either. He didn’t even send a “Respondez, s’il vous plait”!

I was hurt, disappointed and confused. Didn’t God want to join me?

Gideon also wanted to have God join him at his party. 

“And the Angel of the Lord appeared to him, and said to him, ‘The Lord is with you, you mighty man of valor!'” Judges 6:12.

A man of valor is one who has great courage in the face of danger, especially in battle. Gideon may not have thought he possessed this impressive trait but he was about to find out that with God he was unbeatable.

“Gideon said to Him, ‘O my lord, if the Lord is with us, why then has all this  happened to us? And where are all His miracles which our fathers told us about, saying, ‘Did not the Lord bring us up from Egypt?’ But now the Lord has forsaken us and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites.'”

Gideon was unsure of himself and his situation. His army was facing an attack from the Midianites and Gideon did not think they were able to conquer this enemy. He was so distressed about it that he even felt like everything he had heard his entire life was just a fairy tale. “Where are all the miracles I have heard about since I was a child? Have we now been forsaken?”

This lets us know that there are still going to be times that we may question: “Where is God?” Or more precisely, “Does He even realize where I am?!”

God, if You are with us…then why?

The reality is there are going to be some tough days ahead. There are going to be some struggles in our flesh. We are going to deal with afflictions and sickness. Our accounts are going to get pretty low, perhaps even red. There will be days that the heavens will seem locked up. We will mimic the cry of Gideon. “God, if it was really you, then why?”

Then the Lord turned to him and said, “Go in this might of yours, and you shall save Israel from the hand of the Midianites. Have I not sent you?”

I can imagine the Lord was patient with Gideon. He knew his shortcomings, yet He was confident in Gideon’s ability…if he would go in the name of his God. The angel of the Lord didn’t feel sorry for Gideon. He didn’t join with him in his doubt or lack of confidence.

“So he said to Him, ‘O my Lord, how can I save Israel? Indeed my clan is the
weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house.'”

The first pep talk wasn’t enough for Gideon. The angel of the Lord called him a mighty  man of valor, complimenting him on his bravery! But Gideon still wasn’t convinced. He mentions his shortcomings and his family’s pedigree. And like we do, he comes up with excuses.

• I’m not a minister.

• My father wasn’t a missionary or even a minister.

• I don’t have a degree in theology.

• How can you possibly mean me?

But instead of joining in with him, God refuses to come to Gideon’s Pity Party.

And He won’t come to mine either.

 

God simply reminds Gideon of the mission…and the fact that it isn’t about him…it is about HIM!

Just as Gideon was finding out through his interaction…we must be filled by God in order to accomplish what He desires to work through us! He would equip him, all Gideon had to do was Go.

It is the same for us today. Jesus will not leave us without the tools we need to accomplish His will. But self-pity is downright destructive and will leave us alone and frustrated. No one wants to be around someone who feels sorry for themselves and blames everyone around them for their troubles.

It’s not God’s job or desire to show up at our Pity Parties!

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If you have compassion, or pity, for others you show them love or help them in their time  of need. But if you turn that pity on yourself, feeling “Woe is me” all of the time, then no one wants to be around you. You are not doing anything to help yourself or fix your problem!

Pity towards others is commendable; pity for yourself is destructive!

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He wants us to put our trust in Him, in His Word and go in the confidence of the Holy Spirit. “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.” Roman 8:37 NIV.

Are you feeling sorry for yourself today? It is natural, friend. We are human.

Maybe you feel it is justified because LIFE is just overwhelming right now. Nothing is your fault; circumstances just keep piling up and it seems as if all of heaven is against you.

What can you do?

First. Put your confidence in the One who is in control. Let Him handle your worries, your fears; give Him your doubts!

Then Pour yourself into His Word…there are promises in there! Cling to them; make them your own.

Pray. Yes, pray and then pray some more. The more you talk to the Lord the more you will understand His ways, be able to hear His voice and become more like Him. “But you, dear friends, must build each other up in your most holy faith, pray in the power of the Holy Spirit…” Jude 1:10 NLT.

We aren’t in despair, we are a people blessed with Hope. A hope that never fades but keeps us every single day, no matter what comes our direction. He never leaves us comfortless…He sent the Holy Spirit for that reason. “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever…” John 14:16.

Before you know it, you will change that invitation from Pity Party to Praise Party…I promise Jesus will show up at that one.

Blessings, friends.

Sharing with Making your home sing, Amaze Me Monday, Motivation Monday, Inspire Me Monday, Living Proverbs 31, Modest Monday, Monday Musings, Mama Moments