It was during a winter season of my life. You know the times when God
is silent. Well, there I sat, arms crossed, feeling dejected, not
expecting to hear from God. My ear perked up when I heard the pastor
describe me in perfect detail. “Many
of you, from an early age, have prayed ‘God use me, no matter the
cost, I simply want to be used by you.’ You cried, your mascara ran,
and you meant it, and God heard you. Now you same people sit here,
years later. You’re whining, ‘I feel so used. . . Why is everyone
always using me?’ People aren’t using you! God has simply answered
your prayer. You are being used!”
Ouch,
the truth hurts. My pastor went on to question me, “Do you now have a
right to say, ‘This is too painful. You know I really don’t want to be
used after all. What I meant to say was, please use me only if it’s
fun, or if it’s rewarding or if it offers some recognition.’ No, you
prayed the prayer and God has answered.”
I went home with a different perspective.
Now
obviously I don’t believe in being a door-mat. I’m a big advocate of
personal boundaries, self-care and all that other stuff we social
workers teach. But unlike a lot of my counseling peers, I don’t think I
should put me first. In fact, I’m pretty sure Jesus teaches us to put
ourselves last. Dead last. A big fat zero.
I’m learning to extend my prayer a little. It’s no longer a simple “God use me.” Instead, I pray, “God use me to show others YOUR grace and compassion. Give me a pure heart that desires, above all
else, to be a servant as you were. Crush all selfishness. Use me . . .
use me up until there is nothing left but your love shining through
me.”
So the next time I say, "I feel so used," it won't be a complaint but an answer to prayer.
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I Feel So Used!
I’m embarrassed to say that at times I can be a bit of a whiner. One
day, in my not too distant past, I was wallowing in self-pity. “I feel
so used! God, why do you keep putting me in situations where people are
using me?” It was a pretty pathetic display, but thankfully, I was the
only one invited to the pity party. As I sat at my kitchen table, tissue
in hand to sop up the free flowing tears, I remembered a sermon my
pastor preached a few years back and I had to laugh at my stupidity.
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Oh, I know I am so guilty of this as well at times. We need to see everyone and every opportunity as God using us. I guess we do have to set up healthy boundaries though.
ReplyDeleteBoy is this true...LOL
ReplyDelete"Ouch" is right! Thankfully He won't use us to our detriment.
ReplyDeleteLOL...love your fluent in sarcasm note. :-) And this is a great spin on our whining. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteOnly God is allowed to use my Suz....smooches!
ReplyDeleteKimmy
Really true.
ReplyDeleteThis is exactly what I needed to hear this morning Susan! I often feel a bit used (too often!) and unappreciated, however you are right; God has answered my prayer to simply be useful! I need to have a different outlook and perspective on the gift He has given me. I am so inspired by your post! :)
ReplyDeleteBlessings my dear friend,
Denise
Ooh, what a good point! I always think about God using me outside the home, but I forget that inside the home is where he needs me first and foremost.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading this post, I definitely have felt like this before xo
ReplyDelete