“The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit.”
1 Corinthians 2:14.
I don’t know about you, but I’ve struggled for a long time with trying to understand why some people do or don’t do the things they do or don’t do. I have allowed myself to get so upset by being completely baffled by the lack of concern or care some have for certain things in life. I’ve allowed unhealthy anger to consume me over it, repeating the phrase “What is wrong with people?” Shamefully, I admit that I’ve judged them, forgetting that in this world there are those who have understanding and discernment and those that don’t.
Recently, God has been molding this judgment and anger out of me through repeated interactions with these people. People who have a direct influence and impact on our family, to the extent that we will allow, but do not have the discernment of the Spirit. Instead of becoming frustrated and judgmental and making myself crazy over why they do or don’t do things, I’ve been reminded to consider the fact that it’s because they lack the capability to understand. I can’t blame them. But what I can do is continue to walk in the Spirit and love them. Removing any expectations I may have that they would understand why our family does or doesn’t do things a certain way. Focusing on pleasing my Father in Heaven, not those who think our ways are foolish.
Sometimes for example, I believe our parenting looks foreign to those who don’t have the Spirit. It’s been a tremendous struggle over the years to parent Christian boys in a secular world. I’m always encouraged to hear we aren’t the only family setting boundaries in a world where they are basically nonexistent or very flimsy to say the least. In a world where the norm and popular way is not HIS way, we may tend to become discouraged or feel defeated. Remember though, He who is in us is greater than he who is in the world and He who is in us has OVERCOME!! Which means so have we!!
I pray that if we as Christians stick with it and keep fighting the good fight, eventually we will look beside us and see that the narrow path has become quite crowded because of the influence and example we leave along the way. Onward Christian soldiers!
Leah Parkin – Aug 27, 2017