You are NOT your situation! You're so much more!

A few weeks ago, Courtland jammed his middle finger playing basketball and then injured it again the following week.  RICE... rest-ice-compression-elevation was our prescription once the x-ray determined that it was not broken.  I purchased a finger splint for him just to make him feel a little more comfortable and to prevent re-injury.

I noticed that he had begun wearing the splint and it was becoming a crutch.  If he would take it off around the house for a moment, he would go into a conniption if he couldn't find it before going out.  The whole scene was beginning to get old!  On Monday afternoon, I was picking him up from school and found him in one of the rooms finishing his homework.  I sat there with him as he finished and watched as he pulled the splint off and on.  He noticed that the splint had begun to smell after wearing it for so long.  I suggested that he take it off and begin squeezing a tennis ball to work on his flexibility. (We were still using ibuprofen for the residual swelling.)  He looked at me strangely and with doubt in his eyes; but the more I talked about the benefits of moving his finger he was willing to let the splint go.  That was Monday and this is Friday and he has not looked back since.  It made me think how he had begun to rely on the finger splint because he really thought that he still needed it.  The splint, however, no longer served any purpose (except by being a germ incubator).

That moment made me think about how easily we fall into the trap of living out of our hurt and pain.  We collect the titles of illness, misfortune and heartbreak and wear them like a badge.  We adapt our lives to accommodate the splint that we've grown accustomed to, without realizing that it is beginning to smell foul and is affecting those around us.

Think about it....

• You lost your job and now you feel inadequate which causes you to lash out at others.
• Your relationship ended and you immediately found someone else to take your mind off the hurt, not realizing that you are not giving them the full YOU because you don't know who that really is.
• You received the diagnosis and immediately started coughing, hanging your head and dragging your feet because of what the report said, Not because you actually felt sick.

So many times we act out of habit and societal norms.  If something sad happens, then surely we are to be sad.  If something hurts us then somehow we are now justified to take it out on those around us.  If we receive a disturbing phone call, it somehow should affect the rest of the day.

But what would happen if we actually began to act the opposite of what is normally expected?  What would happen if instead of jumping from one relationship to another, we'd actually take time to love ourselves first?  What would happen if after we received the report, we'd begin to thank God for our healing? What would happen if after losing our job, we'd actually work on rebuilding our resume and maybe enroll in school for another degree?

Sometimes it's easy to pick up the negative labels, but I challenge you to trample the label under your feet and stand tall.  You are NOT your situation!  You don't have to wear the label and badge of disappointment because God has created you for more.  Put on Deuteronomy 28:13 that reminds us that "you are the head and not the tail'.  Speak life over your situation and begin to "call things that are not as though they were".

I am Peace.
I am Joy.
I am the embodiment of Christ.
I am  fearfully and wonderfully made.
I am unique.
I am blessed.

Now recognize that you are not what you're going through...... be willing to change the label and
walk it out............!