By Sandy Kirby Quandt

In a recent blog post my writer-friend, Vonda Skelton, had an interesting insight into one of the things we might turn into an idol…our hardships. Turning our hardships into idols was something I’d not thought about in the way she expressed it.

Vonda said, “Sometimes we put our hardships of life on a pedestal, visiting and revisiting it often, making sure we hold it up high for all to see.”

But that’s not what God’s word tells us to do, is it?

The very first law in the Ten Commandments tells us not to allow anything to come before God. We have our list of things we think could be turned into idols, but is the idol of hardship and suffering one of them?

As I thought about what Vonda wrote, I realized how very easy it is to let our physical problems, relationship problems, financial problems, career problems, fill-in-your-own- problem, become idols.

Something we hold up before others to show how much we endure. Something to show how brave it is of us to soldier on. Something to show how much we suffer.

I’d like to say this isn’t an area I struggle with, but that wouldn’t be the truth. This is an area I struggle with, and something very easy for me to fall into. Especially when I feel no one understands, or appreciates the effort.  (There I go again…;) )

“If you only knew what I go through…”

“You have no idea…”

“Well…let me tell you…”

Something I find works is simply sighing rather deeply in a pitiful way. If it doesn’t work the first time, I sigh louder with more emphasis. After that, Pilot will usually ask, “You okay over there?”

To which I’ll reply, “I need attention.”

How about you? Is turning your suffering into an idol an area of concern with which you deal?

Leave your comments below to share your thoughts on the subject. If you think others would appreciate reading this, please share it through the social media buttons.

Joshua said, “You have heard yourselves say that you will worship and obey the Lord. Isn’t that true?”

“Yes, it’s true,” they answered.

Joshua said, “But you still have some idols, like those the other nations worship. Get rid of your idols! You must decide once and for all that you really want to obey the Lord God of Israel.”

The people said, “The Lord is our God, and we will worship and obey only him.”  Joshua 24:22-24 (CEV)

I wish you well.

Sandy

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