What Is Bugging You?
What's Bugging You?
What’s bugging you right now? Pick from these areas of possible irritations: work, relationships, home, school, church.
Which of the words below describe the feelings or actions associated with your irritation: Blame, powerless, denial, explode, hit or punch, resolve, defeated, guilty, self-righteous, vengeful, responsible, win, lose, silent.
What’s bugging you right now? Pick from these areas of possible irritations: work, relationships, home, school, church.
Which of the words below describe the feelings or actions associated with your irritation: Blame, powerless, denial, explode, hit or punch, resolve, defeated, guilty, self-righteous, vengeful, responsible, win, lose, silent.
When you are confronted with the irritation, what do you do about it? How does it help to resolve or minimize it?
Sometimes we implore God to join our crusade against what bugs us like in Psalm 7:6 “Arise, Lord, in your anger; rise up against the rage of my enemies. Awake, my God; decree justice.”
But oftentimes, a better solution is to wait on God’s timing, like Psalm 37:7
“Be still before the Lord
and wait patiently for him;
do not fret when people succeed in their ways,
when they carry out their wicked schemes.”
Sometimes we implore God to join our crusade against what bugs us like in Psalm 7:6 “Arise, Lord, in your anger; rise up against the rage of my enemies. Awake, my God; decree justice.”
But oftentimes, a better solution is to wait on God’s timing, like Psalm 37:7
“Be still before the Lord
and wait patiently for him;
do not fret when people succeed in their ways,
when they carry out their wicked schemes.”
As you think about addressing the irritation, what ownership are you willing to accept? How could you have acted or responded differently?
Consider this illustration of a person being asked about their past irritations who responded, “I stopped going to school because all the teachers were out to get me.” Or, “I know I’ve quit several jobs in a short amount of time but if you could have seen those incompetent bosses, you’d understand!” As a friend, you might want to ask, “What, or who, is the common denominator in all of those situations?” If they are honest, they may have to respond, “me.”
Consider this illustration of a person being asked about their past irritations who responded, “I stopped going to school because all the teachers were out to get me.” Or, “I know I’ve quit several jobs in a short amount of time but if you could have seen those incompetent bosses, you’d understand!” As a friend, you might want to ask, “What, or who, is the common denominator in all of those situations?” If they are honest, they may have to respond, “me.”
It is good to remember that everyone we encounter, like us, is a sinner and imperfect. They are also deeply loved by God, just like us. The Bible provides this direction in our interactions with others, “This is what the Lord Almighty said: ‘Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another. Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the foreigner or the poor. Do not plot evil against each other.’ (Zechariah 7:8-10).”
Closing: May we view and treat others the way we see God viewing and treating them; with mercy and compassion.
4832 Ponderings:
Closing: May we view and treat others the way we see God viewing and treating them; with mercy and compassion.
4832 Ponderings:
- What are areas you need to work on when confronted with irritations?
- Can you look more deeply into your irritations to see if there is an underlying reason for them?
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