RESPONDING TO PAIN
Pain Tempts Me to Live by Sight - Part One
Tempted to doubt the Creators trustworthiness
I Corinthians 10:13
| When I experience pain, problems, or the stress of life... | I am tempted to make wrong assumptions about myself and... | I am tempted to equate who I am with my feelings... |
|---|---|---|
| Pressure to perform | Life |
Inadequate, a failure |
| Conditioned acceptance | Relationships |
Anxious, fearful |
| Wrong value system | Problems |
Guilt, shame |
| Rejection | Love, and God, for God is love |
Alone, not loved |
When I experience pain I am tempted to live by sight, that is, live by my circumstances. I am tempted to disregard the weight of evidence for the Creator's existence and his love for me.
When I live by sight I focus on myself:
Is the Creator meeting my needs or protecting me to my satisfaction?
Is the Creator keeping his promises or his Word to my satisfaction?
When I live by sight I doubt the Creator's trustworthiness.
