I have a great group of friends. Strangely, I got close to most of them after life threw my family a curve ball and we closed up our home. Living the life of a nomad takes some skill, but with a solid core group of friends and family, my existence has become manageable. All have a stash of my tea in their kitchen cupboards and have become used to my intense approach to life and faith. I have contributed to the building of our relationships by giving them a front row seat to the myriad of bizarre situations that have come my way in the past two years. Some of my antics have been so impressive that when my friends feel depressed or blue, they remember to say, “But thank you Jesus, I am not Karen and making the astonishing mistakes she makes.” We seem to have achieved a balance that works.
Being humbled is not an easy thing to experience. We feel caught out, exposed and want to hide. We are reminded in scripture that if we,”humble {our} selves under God’s might hand, that he may lift {us} up in due time 1 Peter 5:6.” That might not take away the sting of embarrassment in the moment but it provides consolation if we are willing to spend time with our feelings in prayer.
I am continually telling my children to “own it” when they do something wrong or make a mistake. Only when we confess our failings, can the Lord come to our aid. This verse has become a good friend during my stormy season. When I am embarrassed that I cannot explain my circumstances, my trails or my mistakes, I am comforted that God oversees my successes and failures. If I can stay in the place of humility and persevere, He will eventually turn the tide of events. Nothing that I might find humbling or humiliating escapes His notice.
If I was a more Godly individual, I would not have found this next story so entertaining. But as one who has been living life on the bottom of the food chain for a good couple years now, I found myself delighted when a dear friend called me with her tale of hysterical woe. Suddenly, I had company. Someone else in my world was making ridiculous mistakes and having to ride out the consequences. I was not the only idiot on the planet! My heart was filled with love for my dear, dear friend because I could relate.
I am not clear how Eliazbeth managed to find me, when I think of it. I was at my parent’s home in another country when she called. I was stopping by their house for half and hour before I went on a long drive and my cell phone wasn’t working. She caught me on my parent’s landline.
“Karen, is that you? Good. I need a favour; can you get to your email? Do you have your laptop? You do? Perfect!! I need help. I was doing a group mailing of my art photos to the church and I think I actually attached a letter that I wrote to my therapist!!!”
I am not often at a loss for words, seldom am I left without a snappy retort. Instantly, I was in a unique and rare moment. Because I am incredibly discerning, I observed that my darling friend needed a peaceful and wise response. And at that moment I failed completely. All I could do was laugh – loudly - loudly and uncontrollably.
“This is not funny! I need you to go online and tell me what I said! I don’t even remember what issues I was discussing. What on earth am I supposed to do?!!”
I was utterly undone by this point. I think it was the stress, but I could not come up with a single word. I just laughed harder, tears streaming down my face. My dear friend has had a difficult life, but I know how she lives now. She did not have any reason to be ashamed, embarrassed certainly, but not ashamed. Thankfully, she started to giggle. “What on earth are they going to think? What should I say?” At that moment, the scripture in 1 Peter came flooding back.
All of you clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” 6Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. 7Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. 8Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings. 10And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. 11To him be the power forever and ever. Amen 1 Peter 5: 5-10.
Finally, I managed to breathe and speak. “Oh my word!! I am so sorry. Look Liz, you might as well just step into a mistake like that and swing. Send out another email and apologize, tell everyone you are embarrassed beyond words but that you are going to make the most of your nightmare moment. You will give a $5 coffee card for the person whose response is the most similar to your therapist. A second coffee card for $10 can go to anyone whose response is better than your therapist! That way, at least you can get some good counsel out of it! And think of all the people who will be praying for you now they know you are in therapy. I am certain that God will use it for His good.” With that sage advice, we were both lost in a fit of giggles, crying and hiccupping trying to contain ourselves.
Perhaps dear friend, you, like Liz and I, understand what it is like to be humbled. You were following Jesus, when suddenly life took a steep turn downward and it caught you off guard. The road shifted beneath your feet and you stumbled. You are bruised and feeling foolish, unclear of what happens next. May I remind you that you are in good company? You are not the only person on the planet who has felt this way. No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it. 1 Cor 10:13
Keep standing dear one. Resist the urge to crumble and hide. Go to prayer; ask for His grace and His mercy. He is willing to give you both of these things and more. Ask for wisdom and endurance to see the storm through. You are precious to Him and He will walk the road with you. He is a good and faithful friend. He understands what it is to be humbled, He can help you.
... though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Phil 2:5-8
It will not always feel awful, dear friend, though it might feel hideous right now. It will get better and you will laugh again.
I am thinking of you,
xoxKB
