A Pain in the Pride

Last week I went to the Chiropractor. This man has a history of making me feel a whole lot better after I see him. This time I made the appointment because my right shoulder was killing me. It was so uncomfortable to sleep that I had to do something. My chiropractor/magician squeezed my shoulder for a minute and asked me to lay facedown on his table. He adjusted my elbow and I slept comfortably that night and every night since!

Though I’ve lived many years it is still amazing to me when things are not what they seem but there’s someone who has the ability to see things as they are. Often when I’m uncomfortable it isn’t physical pain but things going on in the brain or emotions that are bothering me and it seems like one thing when it’s another – but it takes me a long time to see it.

Sometimes in my reading of God’s Word I realize that there is something I should do. Make an apology, call someone that’s hard for me to talk to, get into or out of a ministry because that’s what God wants, or change the wording of something I’m writing. God has given me many clear directions from His word. Well, I know what God has said but for some reason I’m uncomfortable with it. I think, ” that’s the work or the call or the need of someone else.” ” What will others think or say if I do this? ” “Where will I find the time to do one more thing?” “The wording I have now will do.”

Though these things appear to be the problem the problem is deeper. It is not the current “pain” I’m feeling, that’s just a symptom of a deeper issue – like the shoulder and the elbow. The problem for me in these instances of defying God is my pride. For some reason I think that the Creator of the Universe should not have the last word with me, that I know better than He does who I need to apologize to, serve, or work with. Even in my writing, should I not listen to the One for whom I am speaking? Is good enough good enough if God has clearly shown me a better way to say something?

Proverbs 11:2
When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.

Proverbs 13:10
Pride only breeds quarrels, but wisdom is found in those who take advice.

Proverbs 16:18
Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.

God’s Word has much to say about our pride. It also tells us that all the instruction He gives us is for our good. Like me, do you sometimes question God’s leading as if you know better than He does? Meditate on these verses and then revisit those leadings of the Lord you and I have resisted. He is the only one who really sees things as they are, chiropractors not excepted