No because I don't know what they've gone through to get there. I have had people say the same thing about dh and I. Yes we have favor with the Lord but no one but us knows the stuff we've had to endure to get here. No one sees how much we give of our money, our time, our home to be a blessing to others. No one knows the sacrifices we've made. No one knows how we have been talked about and lied on by the very people we once helped but didn't retaliate. No one knows how much we've prayed, fasted, and done the things the Lord requires. So yes on the outside it looks like we've had it easy. I also know God is no respecter of persons. If He blesses someone else, He will bless me too.
The bolded says it all for me. It is a
fact that God is no respecter of persons, so there is nothing spiritually available to one person that is not available to someone else. And more often than not, what people have is a reflection of their character and/or what they put into it that other people can't see. I say that as someone that people like to look at and say, "Oh, how blessed." And people really don't realize what goes into that.
But for those times where I am dissatisfied with what I have, I have to remember that God's faithfulness doesn't mean that whatever good things someone else has, God owes me the same thing. Remember the end of the Gospel of John, where Jesus tells Peter that he would die a matyr, and Peter asks Jesus, "Well what about John?" (paraphrasing) And Jesus says, "If it is my will that he never dies until I come again, what difference does that make to you?
You follow me!" (John 21:18-23)
Looking at what other people have distracts us from understanding God's will for
our lives. Growing more deeply in my understanding of God's will and purpose for my life did a lot to squelch the temptation to look at what other people have and ask, "Well Lord, why don't I have what they have?"
It's okay to bring your desires to the Lord, but we have to bring them without any reference to what anyone else has, without acting as if He owes us something just because someone else has the same thing. The Bible says for us to cast our cares upon Him, for He cares for us. He's listening, He loves you, and even more, He
already knows what is in your heart.
Bring your heart to Him not in expectation that He's going to give you what you want, but with the genuine desire to grow in Him and
learn His will for your life and to follow Him. First things first.
Like I yearn to have a family of my own and I have watched all my cousins and friends get married, have children and it is getting to the point where I don't even want to go to family functions anymore cause I am the only one there without a significant other and kids. It hurts so deeply and I know some say wait, wait ok I have been waiting and it is at the point where it is causing me great depression. Why is God not blessing me with a family and it is just making me think that maybe I sinned so much in my past that he does not think I am good enough to send someone good to me. I meet plently of non christian who are dogs but no one who loves God the way I do.
It sounds like there is something very particular that you're dissatisfied with. Sometimes if we don't identify that one thing that's really bothering us it becomes generalized and all of a sudden instead of saying, "I'm really upset about this particular thing," it becomes, "God isn't listening to me
at all, my
life is messed up, etc." But it's not really that broad. Perhaps there are several things that you really are blessed with, but you're letting your discouragement about a couple of particular things block the whole view.
I don't feel like I have any talents so I could do something at my church and that depresses me when I see other doing something so well. I am either bad at something or average.
When you say "talents" do you mean things like singing and dancing? Talents are different than spiritual gifts. Spiritual gifts include acts of service, administration, generosity, hospitality, acts of mercy, and so on. The more "showy" ministries like preaching, teaching, music, dancing, prophecy, etc. aren't at all the only way that you can be a significant contributor to church life.
Ellis, I really think there is an answer for you. I couldn't guarantee you that it's the answer you want, but the Lord knows where you are and wants to pour out all manner of spiritual blessing in your life.
Be encouraged.
