Recently I was watching a group of children playing; one of them looked at the other and shouted, “Well, sometimes the truth hurts!”

I have no idea what the context of their conversation was up to that point, but the statement itself is true indeed.

A number of years ago now, I was going through a particularly rough time in my personal life.  I was working full time and raising two teenagers, all while helping my husband finish his doctoral degree and get our ministry/business up and going.  It seemed there was never a moment for myself.  I yearned for a quiet hour or two to sit and read a good book, take a long, luxurious bubble bath, or spend an afternoon shopping with a friend.  However, every moment of the day and night was consumed.

After a while, bitterness began to creep into my heart.  I didn’t really realize how intense I had become, nor how much blame I placed here and there and everywhere.  That is, until one morning when I was standing in my kitchen having coffee with my mother-in-law.  She had come to visit and I had taken a few days off work to be with her and the family.

Something I said in our conversation came out really sarcastic and hateful sounding. . . I knew it did the moment it came out of my mouth, but quite honestly, I just didn’t care.  She stood there for a few moments, silent, and then she looked straight at me and said, “Now, Lynette, stop just for a minute and think about what you just said.  Is that the way you really feel?  And since when did you get so bitter and angry?  This is not like you and I am surprised at you.”  Then she just stood there waiting for me to answer.

Well, I can tell you that it made me feel instantly ashamed.  Ashamed for my attitude, ashamed that I was not presenting the Christ-like attitude that I knew I should be, and ashamed that I had been caught in my little attitude and had to be called out.  For just a few moments, I was also angry ~ angry at myself.  It hurt that she was right.  I apologized, and I also determined then and there that I would get control of my frustrations and would attempt to live my life in a manner that would please God to the best of my ability.

Another time that I remember was when I had been deeply disappointed in a job situation.  I had been promised a position of some prestige and a much better salary.  The day before I was to take up residence in the new office, another staff person with more seniority changed their mind and asked for the position.  I immediately reacted in anger and hurt.  I let my feelings be known to my assistant bookkeeper and for several weeks made life in the office quite uncomfortable, as I made it clear how upset I was.

Finally, one day, in love and humbleness, my friend and assistant asked if she could speak with me.  We sat down in our tiny office in the back of the building ~ a reformed closet really ~ and she spoke the truth to me in love.  Lynda shared with me how my behavior was setting a horrid tone in the office and that she knew I did not want to let Satan be the one who was calling the shots in my life.  She then told me that she truly felt that until I was willing to change my attitude that God could not bless me further.  We prayed together.

I knew before we even talked what I needed to do.  I had to go and apologize to the person who had taken the job that I had wanted so badly.  Yep, that’s right.  I was the one who had to apologize.  It was one of the most difficult things I’ve ever done, but with God’s help I did just that.  It didn’t go just the way I thought it would, or had hoped it would.  The other person didn’t so much as blink an eye and denied any knowledge of how horrid I had been acting.  But you know, I felt so much better about myself and was glad I had followed the leading of the Holy Spirit.

And here’s the bottom line.  I had no more than walked back to my office and opened my work folder when my desk phone rang.  It was the secretary for the pastor of the church where we all worked, calling to ask if I would like to interview for her position!  She was leaving and felt that I would be the perfect person to manage that office.  I did the interview and got the job that very day.  It was a much more enjoyable job than the one I’d thought I wanted, and the salary was even better than what that job would have paid.  I stayed in that position for nine years and enjoyed the privilege of serving God in that role.

God is faithful if we are.  However, sometimes we must be willing to face the truth in our lives, even when it hurts, be willing to change when change is needed; and then, be grateful when He brings good things our way.

I trust that if the Lord speaks to you, and tells you a truth that you need to hear that you will listen and respond, as He would have you to do.