Friday, July 27, 2012

Negativity Destroys; God Builds Up

The enemy pursues me,

he crushes me to the ground;

he makes me dwell in darkness like those long dead.

-- Psalm 143:3

I ended the day exhausted. There was no reason. Not really. It was a day like any other. And that was the problem.

Why do some people need to put you down to build themselves up? Why do people need to control your every move to feel powerful themselves? And why does every plan I seem to make end up discarded because someone else has made a decision that impacts on me?

Stress is a killer. All the medical experts tell you that. Stress must also zap a person’s energy. Because it is just exhausting to constantly face a barrage of negativity by the people around you.

And before the choir begins telling me to just find new friends, let me clarify that I’m not talking about friends. I could deal with that because, well, I’d choose to not be around them. But some people you must be around, even when they seem determined to destroy you.

Oh, they wouldn’t say that. They’d make excuses for themselves. They’d blame me. They would bluster and say I’m overreacting. And then they’d talk about the negativity of others and how much it grates on their nerves without ever thinking of looking in the mirror.

Some days, most days really, I try to keep a sense of humor about it. Really, it shouldn’t take an entire morning to go to the grocery store but in my world it does. People who are supposed to care about me shouldn’t be jealous and petty when I have an opportunity to work. Snide comments aren’t becoming and remind me that sometimes two-year-olds live in adult bodies.

Do you have someone in your life that always puts you down? Are you struggling to get along with someone who would destroy you if they had the chance? Then you know what I’m facing. And you know what King David faced when he wrote this psalm.

It’s hard to stay upbeat and do what needs to be done when you are criticized at every corner. It is difficult to believe in yourself when others find sport in kicking you down.

But there is One who is always in your corner. God is your biggest cheerleader. He loves you unconditionally. He claims you as His own. He builds you up and defends you. He hears your silent tears and He cares. Turn to God and let Him hold you close and soothe your wounds.