Getting a Grip!

Don't you just hate it when someone says "get a grip"? Maybe they're saying it in a sarcastic way... or maybe they're just being mean. Either way, it's not pleasant terminology.

However... recently, I had to tell myself to "get a grip". Which made me quite annoyed at myself. I knew I was right, but didn't want to accept it. (I know, I know... that will twist your brain up in a knot if you think too much about it. :)

Saturday night I was trying to be "oh so spiritual" and write here in this blog. Had what I thought was profound and moving thoughts from my day. But my computer kept messing up. It was doing really strange things. When I asked my husband for help, he said it wasn't the computer, it was this website. Now of course that was NOT what I wanted to hear. I can't fix the website, but I can ask him to fix my computer. But he wasn't going for it... and I was convinced it was a computer issue.

I know what you're thinking, he probably knows what he's talking about. Well that's true. But it's never true if I'm mad. Only I know what I'm talking about when I'm trying to prove a point or let him know I'm quite upset or angry. Ladies, can I get a witness??? We're so caught up in how we feel, that's all we can see, right? I'm sure there must be some kind of justification for that in the Bible somewhere.

OK, maybe not. Suffice it to say, my husband has had years of practice with my frustration over computers and software. It just isn't my cup of tea. I suppose I'm not as patient as I should be. OK, OK! If I'm going to be honest, I'm not even close to being patient when it comes to computers. They frustrate the bajeezers out of me.

So there I sat, Saturday night, angry at my computer for not working right... angry at my husband for not catering to my angry whim and running to the rescue to fix my problem... and angry at myself because I was trying to be "oh so spiritual" and write a blog and couldn't think of anything positive that could be put into print at that particular moment. Imagine trying to write something uplifting when your stomach is in knots due to turbulent emotions.

So... I told myself to "get a grip". It's all I could do. I shut down my computer (it was either that or toss it across the room), and let it go. Asking God to forgive me for my lack of humility and my husband to forgive me for not accepting what he was saying, was the next step. Thankfully, he takes my frustration with computers all in stride. He's a very patient man.

After I made my peace, I decided to call it a night. All those emotions are exhausting. But don't you know, of all mornings, and of all subjects for my pastor to teach on the following day, he had to choose "Anger". I couldn't help but laugh at that one. Of COURSE God wasn't through with me yet.

When you trust God in the little things... in your anger, in your frustration over a computer... in how you feel at any given moment... and don't put off taking care of business with Him or those around you, He really will meet all your needs. He does it in such a loving and caring way that sometimes, even when it's a negative emotion that you are dealing with at the moment, it'll make you laugh.

I needed to be reminded to step back when I'm about ready to throw my computer out the window due to its lack of conformity to my will. I needed to remember to not let it get the best of me. After all, it's JUST a computer.

He's such a great God. We all get angry... but He knows how to best reach us right where we are. Right in the middle of how we feel... right when we need Him most. When we reach out to Him, He's always there. I slept well Saturday night because I chose not to carry my frustration or emotions to bed with me. I dealt with my own heart and then let it go.

But I can't help but be reminded of how when we press in to God... when we REALLY press in to God... He is always there for us. Ready to comfort and heal when we need it most.

The first step is ours. It's pressing in. That's our choice. God will always honor and follow through on His part. It's up to us to take the first step by yielding our will and emotions, with humility, to Him. It isn't always easy... but to live fulfilled and at peace, it's necessary.

Check out Proverbs 2:1-8 when you get a chance. They are life-changing words!