Avoid the Pity Party

“Why then does my suffering continue? Why is my wound so incurable? Your help seems as uncertain as a seasonal brook, like a spring that has gone dry.” Jeremiah 15:18 NLT

In an article titled, “Retired Tennis Pro Finds Solace in Marathons” published Monday, the following was reported: Tennis pro Monica Puig has turned to running marathons after shoulder problems forced her to retire in 2022. She’s already completed the 2022 New York City marathon, and this year’s back-to-back Boston and London marathons, according to CNN. Puig, 29, who won more than 300 matches during her career, including a gold medal at the Rio Olympics, told CNN that instead of feeling sorry for herself that her tennis career ended due to injury, she’s channeling “all of that energy...into something more productive.”

And you know, when it comes to the futility of hosting personal pity parties, the Bible gives us the story of Jeremiah who was feeling sorry for himself. You see, Jeremiah was following God by preaching a message of repentance to the Israelites but was feeling nothing but the sting of rejection and persecution from them. As a result, he started to have doubts about what he was doing for God saying, “Why then does my suffering continue? Why is my wound so incurable? Your help seems as uncertain as a seasonal brook, like a spring that has gone dry.” In other words, Jeremiah was saying “I’m suffering here.  Can’t you see?  Are you truly going to help me? Or will you let me down like so many others have in the past?” And of course the Lord reminded Jeremiah that He did see Him and that He would be with him every step of the way. 

So if the Christian life is getting too hard for you today and you’re saying, “Lord, this is tough. Why do I have to go through this?” Stop and remember that a pity party only keeps you from being productive my friend. Trials, tribulations, pains, and pitfalls will come but God will walk with you through them all. So channel your energy into overcoming those doubts and keep pressing on!

Heavenly Father, thank You for reminding us that there will be times when we feel as if this life is unfair or that we’ve been given more than we can handle. During these times Lord, please remind us that You are a mighty God who is working all things for our good and Your glory. Help us to consider it all joy when we go through the fire for your Names’s sake. It’s in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!