On a Personal Note – Wallowing in Self-Pity

Why is my pain unending
    and my wound grievous and incurable?
You are to me like a deceptive brook,
    like a spring that fails.

Therefore this is what the Lord says:

“If you repent, I will restore you
    that you may serve me;
if you utter worthy, not worthless, words,
    you will be my spokesman.
Let this people turn to you,
    but you must not turn to them.

I will make you a wall to this people,
    a fortified wall of bronze;
they will fight against you
    but will not overcome you,
for I am with you
    to rescue and save you,”
declares the Lord.

“I will save you from the hands of the wicked
    and deliver you from the grasp of the cruel.”

Jeremiah 15:18-21 NIV

Have you ever met a person with a “poor pitiful me” attitude? They fail to embrace the promises of God, and so there is always something to complain about or some misfortune that they’re dealing with. Oftentimes, their perspective is limited and self-centered. Self-pity is a vicious little thing. Once you begin to focus on your own troubles, it sends you headed down a black hole of unnecessary suffering. Jeremiah teaches us that if you wallow in self-pity too long, it causes you to question the goodness of God.

In Chapter 15, we see Jeremiah wrestling with some experiences that have caused him to believe some lies about who God is. He feels alone, and unprotected; he calls God deceptive and unreliable. Jeremiah’s words show that he’s feeling let down because of all that he is having to endure. He’s not seeing the promises fulfilled as he envisioned. He focused on his circumstances and allowed self-pity to cloud his vision of who God is. In his impatience to see the promise, Jeremiah had lost the proper posture before the Lord.

But do you see how God responds in verses 19-21? God calls for Jeremiah’s repentance. Jeremiah had gotten stuck focusing on his circumstances and it impacted how he was viewing God. He had created a narrative about God that was full of untruths. Jeremiah had to turn away from his lies and embrace the truth of God’s nature. God reminds Jeremiah of His power to strengthen, protect, save, and deliver. God remains faithful despite Jeremiah’s accusations of a flaw in God’s character. God reminds him that He remains the same no matter the circumstance. He’s faithful and He responds with a merciful correction instead of punishment.

If we know God to be a good provider and loving father, then why do we allow self-pity to invade our minds with doubt and questioning? Why do we stay focused on the areas of lack and misfortune, when God is in the business of breakthroughs and turnarounds? Today I want to challenge you to repent from the lies and limitations you’ve placed on God. There are lies about the nature of who God is that have tainted your perspective on what He can do in your life. Release all these areas, limitations, and thoughts to God… And embrace the truth of who He is and all of the promises that He has spoken over your life.