What do you do when you are feeling stuck in life?
Are you feeling stuck in life or in work? You are not alone. This blog post will guide you through the first of eight principles so you can find peace and health within relationships.
Principle 1: There is a God, and you’re not him.
“I need help. Would you pray for me?”
This request is one of the most profound questions a person can ask.
The request comes at a point in life when the individual gets to the end of themselves and reaches out, not just to God but also to others.
The person must humble themselves and ask for help.
James 4:7 – So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world.
Humility has a way that moves us in a new direction. Humility moves us toward God and away from our selfishness and pride.
If you want peace or you’re feeling stuck in your life, start moving toward humility.
Why Be Humble?
Humility is about coming to a point in your life where you recognize there is a God, and you are not God. Many of the clients I work with (as in they come to me for life coaching) come to me because their method of living life is not working (they are stuck and everything they have tried up to this point is not working). They are either failing in their relationships, personal life, or professional life. What’s happing (more times than not) is that they have been living life like they are God.
How being God might sound:
- “I can drink as much as I want and stop anytime.”
- “I’ll look at porn when I want, and it won’t hurt anybody.”
- “I can spend money how I want, and I earned it (or can earn more of it).”
- “Why are you questioning me?”
- “I deserve it.”
- “I’m the boss, and you do what I say.”
- “The Bible says to submit to me.”
- “Just do what I say!”
These statements and many like them all have a common theme. They are about control and selfishness. Control (of others or stuff) and narcissism (I want! Or I Deserve!) will lead to a life of destruction and isolation (our friends and family do not want to be controlled are manipulated).
How To Be Humble:
The good news is that humility can be learned. What’s more, it is one of those life principles that is easy and hard at the same time. Easy, as in following a simple task. Hard, as in it, will require you to take a risk and be vulnerable. Here are a few steps to add humility to your life.
Confession – confession means “to tell the truth” about yourself. The biblical author James tells us to confess our sins to ONE ANOTHER and PRAY for EACH OTHER. There is nothing more humbling than to call a friend, tell them your story, and ask for prayer. When I say story, I’m talking about your weaknesses, sinfulness, failures. As one biblical commentator says, “we confess to God for FORGIVENESS, and we CONFESS to others for HEALING.” To tell the truth about myself requires me to be vulnerable and open – it moves me to a place of awkwardness and humility.
Acknowledge the Source – God is our source of life and resources. The Bible states that every good and perfect thing comes from God above. When we acknowledge that God is our source of everything good, it puts us in a humble stance. YES, God has called us to do good things (Ephesians 2:10), and we can take pride in the good we can do. However, our pride is based on the talents, skills, and abilities that God has gifted us with.
Be a Team – Teamwork is an excellent exercise in humility. Teamwork was first modeled during the creation process as all three persons of the trinity (Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit) work together. We also see the trinity members working together during the Salvation process. God models teamwork, and we can follow His lead by being a team in the home (Husband, Wife, and Children). We can be a team in our professional life (Employer, Employee, and support team). Teamwork can also be embraced in our personal life (Self, accountability partners, and trusted advisors or a life coach).
Takeaways:
Are you presently feeling stuck in life? Maybe you are getting in your way. Take some time to reflect on your life to see where you might be playing the role of God. Confess it, and accept that you are not God and need help from HIM and others.
Questions:
- What will you confess today that is rotting in your life?
- How will you begin to team up with God and others? Who will you ask to join you in life?
Notes:
Cloud, Henry & Townsend, John (2002). God will make a way. Thomas Nelson Publishing, Nashville.
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