Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
for I will yet praise him,
my Savior and my God.
Psalm 42:5 (NIV)
Every day deny yourself some satisfaction;—bearing all the inconveniences
of life (for the love of God), cold, hunger, restless nights, ill health,
unwelcome news, the faults of servants, contempt, ingratitude of friends,
malice of enemies, calumnies, our own failings, lowness of spirits, the
struggle in overcoming our corruptions;—bearing all these with patience
and resignation to the will of God. Do all this as unto God, with the
greatest privacy.
Thomas Wilson (1663-1755) Anglican Bishop of Sodor and Man
Mary Tileston, author of Daily Strength for Daily Needs, had included three different excerpts with today's verse from Psalm. I choose Mr. Wilson's for his last four words, "with the greatest privacy".
While I am not sure I agree with the opening of Wilson's statement, I do think that he has the right idea at the end. A Christian's life, indeed the unbeliever's alike, will be fraught with all manner of trouble. Some large, many small. (Although "the faults of servants" is something I will never likely have to suffer through.) These struggles are unavoidable, but it is how we choose to handled these times that can glorify God or glorify the individual.
We are called to "bear all these with patience" and to realize the perfect will of God is working in each Christian's life. However, too often Christians like to wear the martyr's badge on their sleeve. Whether it is announcing to the Sunday School class how they are the only righteous person at work or how they have overlooked the shocking sleight of a family member, there is little privacy involved.
I have been told I don't share enough about my innerworkings, but I would posit that it is better to err on the side of privacy than promulgation. In scripture we find Christ retreating to private places to pray and commune with God. While he did on rare occasion share with his disciples his fate, most of the angst and anguish was saved for the one-on-one times with his Father.
While there may be a time and place to share personal struggles and victories, every Sunday, every Facebook post, every Tweet is perhaps a bit over-the-top.
Work through struggles with God and perhaps one or two close spiritual advisers. Let praise be your public pronouncements.
P.S. A word of caution. . . Even praise can be turned into a self-serving venue.
"Praise to God for giving me the strength to be the only Christians at my heathen work place."
"Thank you Jesus for allowing me to be the a bigger person than my argumentative spouse."
"Only God could give me strength to tip that rude waiter 18%."
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