To have a pity party or not have a pity party???

As my wife continues to work her way through Made to Crave, I have found another opportunity to post something to what is being discussed. I hope this helps shed some light on how we need to give up control.

In 2 Corinthians 12: 9-10 (NASB) says "And He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness." Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong."

We are all faced with various situations that attempt to make or break our spiritual well-being daily. How we face those challenges can develop our character! If it were five or six years ago, I would be having my own little pity party based on my most recent situation. Instead, I choose to take action and get the job done! Here is where I am going to do my best to show my resolve without divulging too many details.

I am in a career field that requires spur of the moment decision making and adapting to various situations. Because of this, I am required to rely on different divisions within my department and when something slips through the cracks, I have to be able to accept what happened and move on.  As a result of a situation that started at the beginning of the week, I was required to travel the next day (Tuesday) 3 hours from home to make a pickup and transport back to my county. Approximately 30 minutes from my destination, I received a telephone call and advised that I may be picking up one more package. When I arrived at my destination I received another call advising that I was in fact picking up another and having to make the transport back to my county. The first thing I am thinking is that I am not going to make it back home before the winter storm that is starting to work its way through North Carolina hits.

As we were leaving, I noticed small snowflakes starting to fall. Hit the road now John or your going to be stranded on the highway for who knows how long. The first two hours of what should be a three hour trip back were uneventful. About that time is when I called to check into the office and was told the office was closing due to weather conditions. The first thing I realized is that I am going to drive into this storm and be stuck out on the road in the middle of nowhere. Needless to say, I had a six hour trip turn into 13 grueling hours but the job was completed and my bosses were happy.

Raleigh snow photo goes viral

When it is all said and done, we can throw that pity party or look at what we are suppose to learn from it. I am sure many of you have seen the photo (both the original and those that have had various editing done). How is my situation any worse that what others endured on the afternoon of February 12, 2014 or the situation several weeks ago in Atlanta, GA? Am I any better that the other people that were out there? In part it comes down to what we learn from the situation! Take for example this Atlanta, GA situation:

Chick Fil A story

There are many untold stories that go with what happens during snow storms. The Chick Fil A story shows how people went from the possible pity party into acts of kindness. There were many acts of kindness that will go untold for whatever reason.

Yesterday, I could have thrown that pity party and given into what was happening. However, God was trying to teach me something. He wanted me to surrender to the situation and trust that He will get me through it. He wanted me to release control and let Him have it. It is not easy! We have control issues and when we cannot control our own situation, we take a step back and have that pity party. We look at things as if everyone is out to get us.

Lysa Terkeurst said "I am made for more, I am made for victory." Hearing this makes even more sense to me especially in my recent situation. To have a pity party would only give into Satan's grasp and allow him control of the situation. To not have a pity party allows God to have control and allows us to learn what He wants to teach us.


Hearing 2 Corinthians 12: 9-10 allows me to understand even more that I need to surrender each and every situation to Him and not allow Satan in. Do I have that pity party (letting Satan in and feeling sorry for my situation) or not having a pity party (Let God in and trust his plan for me)?