Ranting

I’ve been in a less than ideal mood the past couple of days. There have been many things that have just been picking and pulling at me the last few days. So I sat down to write a rant. I intended to write down why. I thought that a few paragraphs of therapeutic writing would be just what the doctor ordered. But then I stopped. I couldn’t. That’s not what I’m called to do.

The grace and mercy of God is so apparent in my life. His blessings abound. And while that doesn’t mean that the mood-dampening events are empty of meaning, it does draw my attention away from them. How great is our God that he saved a wretch like me! He feeds and clothes me. He gives me opportunities to serve him and to have fun. And while I may not be satisfied about a few subjects, I bet you that ranting about them would just make me swirl around in the whirlwind of negativity. Maybe I just need to look to God and know that he is sovereign.

I’m wrestling with this. I truly am. It’s just been an exhausting past few days. But I know that God is greater than anything this world could ever throw at me. Perhaps this should serve as a reminder to those who are feeling similarly.

In my teenage years, I would compare my current troubles to the starving children in third-world countries. I would use that comparison to spur myself on to happiness. “Happiness is a comparison. You just need to be comparing yourself to that starving kid rather than Bill Gates.” I’d say that again and again. And while there is definitely truth in that thought process, it is inherently flawed.

Telling a widow that she should be grateful that she has food is just heartless. There is no hope in that food. Other people’s misfortune doesn’t negate your own. It doesn’t make it less real.

No, the proper perspective is not found by looking at the greater misfortune of others. It is  found by looking at the greatest glory of our God. You have a heavenly Father who loves you. He cares for you. He paid the price for you. And I’m certain that “…the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” (Romans 8:18)

So no rant of frustrations today, even if it is tempting. I have a savior who loves this impatient, grumpy, and flawed man. I’ve got a lot to be happy about.