Caved in to Desire

BIBLICAL POINT OF REFERENCE:

"Many are the plans of the human heart, but it is the decision of the LORD that endures."

~Proverbs 19:21

I have a confession to make: I am a weak human being. I stumble and fall and break and sin all the time. I cave in to my desires and I am so afraid that I will not be strong enough to rise above them. We all have our own crosses to bear, and sometimes I'm almost positive that those crosses don't make us stronger, but make it easier to tear us down and sin. And why do we have to have crosses anyway, right? They're a pain. Wouldn't life be so much easier without them? Maybe. Or maybe not. One of the biggest crosses in my life is Celiac Disease. This disease prevents me from eating wheat and gluten, and so naturally I am on the gluten-free diet. This means that I can't have pizza, bread, pasta, cake, mac n' cheese, and more foods that I used to eat all the time before I was diagnosed. I found out that I have Celiac nine years ago, and while most days I don't really think about it, there are times when the desire to eat something I shouldn't overcomes me. A couple hours after eating gluten is when I start feeling regret - and a stomach ache. While this passes with time, it doesn't stop me from feeling guilty about putting myself through sickness just to have a minute or two of eating certain foods again. I don't tell you all about this to receive pity or to complain about my problems in life; I tell you this because I am betting that each and every one of you has a cross that weighs on your heart similar to the way this one weighs on mine. And I am betting that like me, you have all caved in to desire now and again just to release yourself from the pain of it all, even if only for a minute. But one thing I've learned from this particular cross of mine is that I am determined to bear it. And sometimes I just want to know that there are other people out there who, are struggling with their cross, but are ready to face it too - for God. I'm still trying to figure out why I have the crosses I have, and odds are, I'll never know. So what we need to do is focus on bearing our crosses instead of being angry and upset that we have them. My challenge for you all this week is to channel those negative emotions towards your crosses and use them to grow closer to God, with the understanding that your life is in His hands. Easier said than done, but more than worth the effort. Don't worry about the mistakes you've made in the past regarding caving in to your desires that our crosses often block; instead, think about the wonders God can do that make life with those crosses a piece of cake (no pun intended)! I am, as always, here for you ladies for anything. Your Laughing Sister, ​Callahan

Check out the WHEN LIFE DRAGS YOU DOWN and REGRET quotes pages for more inspiration!