One day, while talking to a student about following along as the teacher showed the class the solution to the math problem, she said she didn’t care that she was falling behind because of her disabilities. She reminded me of me; she lacked confidence in her abilities.
Does this sound familiar? Oh, the conversations of a familiar negative spirit lurking.
“Therefore, please hear this: you are afflicted and drunk but not with wine. 22 Thus says the LORD, the LORD your God, who pleads the cause of His people: ‘See, I have taken out your hand the cup of trembling, the dregs of the cup of My fury.” You shall no longer drink it, 23 but I will put it into the hand of those who afflict you, who have said to you, “Lie down, that we may walk over you.’ And you have laid your body on the ground, like the street, for those who walk over. Isaiah 51:21-23
Proverbs 12:25 “Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression, but a good word makes it glad. 26 The righteous should choose their friends carefully, for the way of the wicked leads them astray.
When you are on this healing path, it can be incredibly lonely, and students labeled as Special Ed are harder because they feel excluded from the “Normal, or the GenEd, among some educators. They have no friends, or few, but not in every class, so they sit alone in class or at lunch. The devil finds an opening through such words and sends people on this path to distract you and lead you away from your healing journey and God. Old, toxic, unhealed friends or drinking buddies may reappear like ghosts from the past. Don’t forget where they were when you were on the ground, and walked over you, laughing at your fall. They saw where you were and cursed you; be careful, let discernment protect you, and prudence keep you on the path of God.
Anxiety is a cruel taskmaster; he is a liar, and he will cause you to default to a negative mindset. It pushes you to be in a hurry; kick hurry out. It is crippling, like being drunk with wine; it produces excess chordisol, which can cause health problems, heart pulpitations, etc. But you don’t have to lie down and let this spirit walk all over you.
“Be still and know that God is with you, whisper His word, ‘Peace, be still, peace, be still, Jesus is LORD, Jesus, the WORD is Good. Loudly remind yourself of all He has done for you, resist the devil, and he will flee.
I am grateful for many things the LORD has brought me through. I am thankful that He hears me and that I can tell Him the desires of my heart without feeling condemned or ungrateful.
False positivity is in itself oppressive, and choosing friends carefully is even more critical because people-pleasing is a slippery slope that can lead to your destruction, or like letting evil people walk over you and lead us away from God.
Why would we want that kind of relationship when God, our heavenly Father, loves us and wants to have a relationship with His beloved? Talk to God; He hears you. Let Him minister to your heart, while you praise Him. He will bring the kind of relationships that will bring the best out of you, and for you.
Dear LORD, protect our children and grandchildren from all evil. Let no spiritual, emotional, physical, or mental weapons formed against them to lead them astray prosper. LORD, send Your army of heavenly host to guard them in every way, in the Mighty Name of Jesus. Cover them, O LORD, with Your mighty hand, and cause the enemy to fall into their own pits. Let Your Peace rule and reign in their hearts; in our hearts, and a new song be on our lips.