He that getteth wisdom loveth his own soul: he that keepeth understanding shall find good. (Proverbs 19:8)
A decade ago, when I was single and working my way through graduate school, I found myself envying a woman I worked for.
I didn’t want to envy this lovely woman who’d been nothing but kind to me. I hated feeling that way. But beating myself up about this feeling got me nowhere.
I decided to get curious about my envy instead of trying to stifle it. What is it about her life that stirs up this unpleasant feeling inside of me? I shifted from envying her to recognizing she had much to teach me — and I began to take notice.
There were many things about her I admired: how she engaged her own work with passion but always took time to be present with her family … the light-heartedness evident in her relationships with others … the way her home was welcoming and lived-in. There was always an extra seat at her dinner table, an open invitation for connection.
As I took notice of her life I realized that my own life had become a little out-of-balance. My work had taken over at the expense of connecting with others. Envy became a cue that something in my own life needed to change.
I had discovered what it meant to take a “You-Turn.” In Matthew 7:3-4, Jesus challenged the crowd to work on their own issues, before pointing fingers at others. “And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?”
When you’re feeling envy, anger or resentment, it’s good to ask what else is going on inside. Is there another part of me that’s hurting and I’ve been exiling? If so, it needs to be drawn in closer so to give it the care it needs. Or, is there a part of you that’s become reckless and needs some gentle boundaries? Notice the cues. Listen to your pain.
When challenging emotions make their presence known, take the opportunity to evaluate what is going on inside of you. Which parts of your soul need your time, attention and redirection? Painful or troubling emotions present opportunities for growth and healing: Internal conflict is often growth trying to happen.
God’s Word reminds us that gaining wisdom and insight is worth it in the long run. As we see in today’s key verse, “He that getteth wisdom loveth his own soul: he that keepeth understanding shall find good” (Proverbs 19:8).
Taking a You-Turn helps me gain clarity about my conflicted thoughts and feelings so I can respond intentionally instead of becoming reactive. It doesn’t mean I start to criticize myself for having the difficult or uncomfortable emotion. Instead, it means getting curious and treating myself with compassion. Taking a You-Turn starts with these three steps:
1.) Focus on the challenging or overwhelming emotion.
2.) Extend compassion toward this feeling you don’t like.
3.) Invite Jesus to draw near.
Just the other night, I stopped to take a break from my work to snuggle up with the dog on the couch and watch a silly TV show with my daughter. As we laughed out loud in our very lived-in family room, I remembered, with gratitude, that woman whose life I had once envied. With the help of God’s Spirit, I’d been able to focus on a feeling I didn’t like and allow Jesus to transform it. As a result, I gained access to some of my deepest desires and was able to take steps to change my own life.
When you spend time with God, don’t leave your unwanted thoughts and feelings at the door. Instead, get curious about them and invite Jesus to be near them, too.
Dear God, thank You for the gift of a multi-faceted soul. Today, I invite You to draw near and keep me close. Help me understand my emotions and wisely discern how You want me to grow. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
This devotion blessed me so very much. I pray it encourages you to make a “You Turn” in your life if you have any unwanted thoughts and feelings. He is greater than anything we face, He is able. Go to Him in prayer. I (He) will go before thee, and make the crooked places straight: I (He) will break in pieces the gates of brass, and cut in sunder the bars of iron (Isaiah 45:2).
Have a beautiful and uplifting day in The Lord!
Today’s Reading is Psalm 90:2
