By Chris WittsTuesday 20 Aug 2024Morning Devotions with Chris WittsFaithReading Time: 1 minute
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Transcript:
I was quite interested to view a YouTube clip recently. It featured an interview with UK media personality Stephen Fry, and he was talking about self-pity. He said that self-pity is the worst possible emotion anyone can have—it is the most destructive.
He said: “It’s easy to feel hard done by, or it’s not fair or I’m not appreciated.” “They may all be true,” Stephen Fry said, “but to pity oneself is doing yourself an enormous disservice.” He said he’s always wanted to write a book How to be Happy. The pages would be blank, except for the first, which would have the words Stop feeling sorry for yourself.
I found myself agreeing with Stephen Fry, because I think it is a big problem around the world. So, let’s have no more self-pity. Do you remember hearing the little children’s rhyme: “Nobody likes me. Everybody hates me. I think I’ll eat some worms.” If we allow ourselves to do so, most of us can find plenty of reasons to feel sorry for ourselves. Its about having negative thoughts I guess—and I know that has happened to me many times!
Self-pity is a bottomless well. And once a person allows himself/herself to start plunging there, they fall into a deep, dark chasm. And there seems to be no escape. It doesn’t take much to turn someone into a bitter pessimistic, angry, hateful and unhappy person.
It was Dale Carnegie who wrote: “Feeling sorry for yourself, and your present condition, is not only a waste of energy, but the worst habit you could possibly have.” The more you feel sorry for yourself, the less likely it is that you will move forward in your life. Do you know someone who is like that? Unfortunately, once self-pity sets in, it becomes an ingrained pattern in our mind. Very hard to shift it.
Fighting self-pity
What can we do about it? Each day for the next month, write down five things you’re grateful for. Don’t miss one day. It can be anything—no matter how simple. Repeat them if you need to. It will amaze you after one month to see how much you can thank God for. Self-pity is a habit and a choice. You can do something about it. No-one likes to be around someone who is constantly whining and complaining—seeing themselves as a helpless and hapless victim: “I don’t deserve this—poor me”.
George Bernard Shaw said:
People always blame their circumstances for what they are. I don’t believe in circumstances. The people who get on in the world are those who get up and look for the circumstances they want. If they can’t find them, they make them.
God will put a new song
Have a look in your Bible sometime at the amazing story of Joseph, whose jealous brothers tried to kill him, but then sold him as a slave in Egypt. He eventually became a ruler of Egypt in a miraculous turn of events—it’s worth reading. Joseph could have easily said why has this happened to me?. His boss’ wife lied about him and he was put into prison for 13 years, for something he hadn’t done.
Here was a terrible injustice, but God had his own way of blessing his people. He had gone from the pit, to prison, and all the way to the palace. He proved himself to be trustworthy, courageous and a visionary. If anyone had a reason to feel sorry for himself, it was Joseph. He could have thought his life had been wasted, all at the hands of his brothers. What an amazing man who God blessed and protected.
People don’t have the final say—God has the final say.
The thing to remember today is this: people don’t have the final say—God has the final say. He will get you where you’re supposed to be. Trust in him with all your heart. He will help you develop trust, competence, endurance, and perseverance. If God is with you, who can be against you?
If you feel you’re in the pit today, allow Jesus to bring you out. Whoever broke your heart or dishonoured you, if they walked away, they were not part of God’s plan for you. God has something better in store. And he will put a new song in your heart. Don’t let self-pity or depression steal your passion and purpose. God has promised to bless and protect you. Self-pity is a habit and choice. Make a decision to unlearn this negative habit.
Take responsibility for yourself. Because there is a lot at stake: your friendships, your future, your health, and much more. Why do some people in similar situations struggle through life, while others sail through? I’m not sure of the answer. But God promises to be with us, every step of the way.