God is faithful...if you let Him be.

God is so faithful. Prayer is so important.

I'm a worrier; have been my entire life. God has worked on me a lot in this area, and I am much MUCH better than I used to be, but I'm still refining this part of my flesh. New situations can send me into a tailspin if I am not very careful - capturing every thought (2 Corinthians 10:5). In prayer this morning, I received what I lovingly refer to as a spiritual spanking. 

What God revealed was that while I may be releasing MY worry, I never did release THE worry. I transferred it. Like, if I'm not worrying, someone else should be. And not just internally, I should see their worry visibly and in the same manner as I would be demonstrating appropriate worry. Otherwise, obviously no one is worried about it. 

And God said: "Why should they suffer like you? Haven't you learned that worry is pointless? Haven't you learned that your way of worrying is wrong, a lack of faith that I've got this? If it's wrong for you, why do you expect it of them? Maybe their faith is stronger than yours. Maybe they ARE worried but, because it doesn't look like your worry, you don't see it. And if they are worried, shouldn't you be ministering the lessons I've taught you about worry? But instead, you want to press the issue, force them into a state of panic that you can see so that you feel better that someone is worrying in your place. Why would you put someone in a place you're desperate not to go back to? If you need someone to worry, let it be Me. I am focused on it. I am handling it. Don't make your brothers and sisters stumble on your stumbling block."

And it was like a weight lifted and I repented...because that was exactly what I was doing. Not intentionally, but we spend so much time in the world that breaking these habits can be difficult. We can think we've released a burden to God, but we've actually just shifted it to someone else's responsibility. 

And that is why prayer is so important. If I hadn't sat down with God and took the time to listen, I would have continued dragging others into a sin that I was desperate to let go. Scripture warns us not to become a stumbling block; if it's in the Word it's because we need a reminder or it's a trap we could fall into.

What are your weaknesses? Are you causing those around you to stumble because you're transferring you stumbling blocks to others? Maybe it's not worry. Maybe it's baggage from a rough childhood. Maybe it's unreasonable expectations because that's what you've set up for yourself. Maybe it's approval. Maybe it's pride. Sit down in a quiet place and ask God to show you. He will answer. And as he works through those weaknesses in you, make sure you aren't transferring them to those around you...give them to God. 

Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother. - Romans 14:13