Have you ever had a day that’s so bad you want to spread some misery around?
Not long ago, I had a horrible stomach bug. I struggled with raging fevers that left me alternately freezing and melting. The trashcans were overflowing with Kleenex, and I couldn’t even muster the energy to empty them. What a perfect time to write a Misery Loves Company post… just in time for Mother’s Day!
Don’t worry.
I didn’t.
But it was tempting.
Lots of internet writers seem to think spreading misery is a great idea. A quick online search found loads of despair waiting to be shared on blogs and in tweets posted in the last 24 hours. There’s something about Mother’s Day approaching that tips infertile women over emotionally, making a difficult struggle suddenly feel impossibly unmanageable. And sharing some misery with the world is so cathartic: Come bond with me! We’ll be miserable together!
It’s a trap. Don’t fall in.
The temptation to wallow in self-pity is a powerful one. We tell ourselves it doesn’t hurt anyone – and believe it can actually help. But really, it doesn’t.
Dwelling on despair makes hope feel much further away than it actually is. It makes God’s purposefulness seem veiled and impenetrable. It gives us an ever-expanding laundry list of reasons to grieve, resent, and give up. None of which makes this journey any easier.
“Our lives are the expression of the thoughts that lie behind them, and of the thoughts that inspire them.” – Marjorie Jackson
Especially now, as Mother’s Day approaches, it matters what you feed your mind and spirit. A steady diet of hopeless messages may seem to satisfy your hunger, but it will actually starve you of the strength you need for the journey.
Unless you’ve chosen to give up on the dream of parenthood – deciding it’s too arduous a journey and no longer worth the effort – you need to FOCUS:
– On why you are doing this: God planted a seed of hope in your heart. And He did it for a reason.
– On why you have hope: “All things work together for good for those who love God, and are called according to His purpose” {Romans 8:28].
– On where you find your strength: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” [Ephesians 4:13].
– On how you resist self-pity: “The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure” [I Corinthians 10:13].
– On how your story will end: “I (God) will pour out My spirit on your offspring, and My blessing on your descendants” [Isaiah 44:34].
God has given you the power to alter the course of your journey with your thoughts. They will express themselves in the life that unfolds before you. You are certainly justified in thinking thoughts of failure and defeat. But, you are also justified in thinking thoughts of strength, sufficiency and victory. Which will it be?
Use your power wisely. And be thankful for this Mother’s Day gift.
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For inspiration, cause for hope, and useful resources, click this link.
Pregnant with Hope 