Cornered

Life is a game of power and control that can suck even the humblest of souls in at many levels. What do we do when someone check mates us and they appear to have all the control and we are imprisoned, cornered and see no way out! Well, there are three choices that we have at that point and it takes a soulful decision that will determine the outcome.  

The first choice is to refuse the other two options and to choose hopelessness then death. Isaiah 40:27 reads, "Why do you say and complain, "My way is hidden from the Lord; my cause is disregarded by my God?" A person whose mind sees no hope and their heart does not believe that God will rescue them will choose this option. They simply do not see any way out.

The second option is ingrained in our flesh and it is to fight with fury. Pull out all the weapons of our rage and seek to destroy. The problem with that option is it will not only destroy the opponent but it also destroys us in the process. We live through the battle but we are decimated in character, shackled with bitterness and live a life with a soul that is diseased and shriveled. We also leave the stench of our ungodly behavior in our wake and it follows us where ever we go, repulsing those around us. It's not a win but a massacre and we are left covered with shame. A chain of resentment, anger, rage, stubbornness, bitterness, emptiness...is placed around our neck by our own self as a congratulatory metal but it weighs us down and cripples us. Our pride puffs us up on the outside but makes us too bloated to enter into any grace. A sick and twisted victory that even the survivor can't live with. Yet, so many take this wide path out of the corner because it is the only path that is wide enough to carry all their ugly, clanging plunder through.

There is a third option but it is narrow. In order to escape this way one must lay down all that is not righteous. The gate to this path is shaped like Jesus and until we surrender our self-righteousness we cannot fit through it. We must sacrifice our own desires for revenge and take on His character of humility. Romans 12:19,20 reads, "Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written, "It is mine to avenge, I will repay, says the Lord." On the contrary: "If your enemy is hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on their conscience." Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." Being trapped and cornered is usually looked at as a horrible thing but quite the contrary. That is a place of repose and freedom, if we allow God to shape us there into His image. There's an old saying, "We can do this the easy way or the hard way." Most humans choose the hard way. Like a fish on a hook being reeled in, we will writhe, contort, lash about and buck His every attempt to calm us and transform us. He knows though, that if deep down you weren't willing you would have chosen option #1 or #2 already. So God waits, and waits until we wear ourselves out.

I recall the time my three year old granddaughter came to California from Belgium. She was exhausted and her little mind could not adapt to the time change. In her frustration she became uncontrollable and inconsolable to the point that she had no wits about her. So I took her into the bedroom and tried to get her to sleep but she was having none of it. I held her in a loose hold in my arms as she fought me every inch of the way with her body and full spirit. I sang songs to her, prayed over her and just kept telling her that I knew what was best for her and she had to trust me. Well, two hours later she relented in my arms and finally exhausted herself. She slept for 19 hours and woke the next day fully refreshed and being her old cute self again. Not one remnant or memory about the wrestling match remained, only the fact that I was Nana and I loved her. That memory always served as a reminder to me that God knows what's best for me. I can fight Him or I can relent and let Him have His way with me. His way is always best.

Choosing humility is NOT EASY, so how do we do it? The first step is to get all our injustices layed out before Jesus (He certainly understands injustice.). Psalm 22:24 says, "For He has not despised or disdained the suffering of the afflicted one; He has not hidden His face from him but has listened to his cry for help." Lay it out, wrestle with God, cry, lament, scream... get it out of you and before Him. Does it all feel too dirty and vile to expose it before God? He already knows your thoughts so get over it and throw it all up in His lap, He can take it. Calm your spirit.

Second, set a time limit of how long you are going to wallow then stick to it (unless you want to release yourself from it sooner). Don't let your emotions own you by giving them an open ended ticket to reside in your being for as long as they want. It's okay to have a pity party but all parties must end at some time. Calm your mind.

Third, stop pacing like a wild animal that wants to hunt but can't because it's in a cage. Calm yourself and let the zoo-keeper bring you food and water. God did this for Elijah in 1 Kings, chapter 19 when he provided Elijah with nourishment and refreshment and rest after he ran from Jezebel's wrath and wore himself completely out. Calm your body.

The fourth step to humility is to make the conscience choice to engage with a trusted confidant who will listen hard and long and who you know will offer you sound, Godly wisdom. Opening ourselves up to accountability is difficult because then there is someone out there who not only knows our mess but is going to offer encouragement at a time when all we want to do is to tell everyone to shut up and back off. Isolation is the devils playground and as much as we want to wallow, trust me, it's God's playground you want to be in when your vulnerable. Calm our pride.

The fifth step is to WANT to get out by the narrow path. Posture yourself for that, determine it in your whole being. Be a drill Sergeant to yourself and have a plan. Let true conviction steer you to the complete commitment that you are going to de-bloat yourself of pride and take on the garment of God's righteousness instead. Begin to pray again, trust God again, read His Word and LET HIM love you! Mother Theresa said, "It is never about you and another person, it is always about you and God." Let God deal with the vengeance so you can focus completely on finding some peace through your storm. Opponents love it when we are reactive but they despise when we have peace. Calm your demeanor.

Being cornered is an AWFUL feeling! Christ knows exactly how you feel. Remember Him begging His Father in the Garden of Gethsemane to release Him from the cross experience? His anxiety broke the blood vessels in His face and He literally was sweating blood. Yet He told His Father, "Your will not mine." He set His pride aside to be obedient to His Father. Will you make that choice? The choice to love God more.

Psalm 25: 1-5, "To you , O Lord, I lift up my soul; in You I trust, O my God. Do not let me be put to shame, nor let my enemies triumph over me. No one whose hope is put in You will ever be put to shame, but they will be put to shame who are treacherous without excuse. Show me Your ways, O Lord, teach me Your paths; guide me in Your truth and teach me, for You are God my Savior, and my hope is in You all day long."

Luke 13:24, "Make every effort to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will try to enter but will fail."