Stupid Hurts

We are starting a brand new series this month called "Stupid Hurts". This series isn't really about doing stupid things as much as it is about having "Stupid Hurts" in our hearts. When we don't deal with these "Stupid Hurts" we say and do stupid things.

I want to throw out three things that we all deal with at some time in our life. If these things are not dealt with, the quality of our life will be diminished and we will do or say stupid things!

We have to deal with our anger. Everyone gets hurt at some time in life. If we don't deal with our hurts or our disappointments they will fester and grow. The bible is clear that we all experience anger at people, God, or our situation in life. The bible says, "In your anger do not sin": Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold" (Ephesians 4:26-27). It appears from the bible that we need to deal with our anger quickly so that our emotional problem does not lead to a spiritual problem. The way to deal with that hurt is to forgive whoever wronged us. When we deal with our anger we ensure that we won't commit a "stupid hurt" on others or even on ourselves.

We have to deal with our fear. I have noticed that many of us are fearful of the future. We are fearful because we are focusing on the unknown elements of the New Year. We are afraid for our economic livelihood, we are afraid because we don't know what the election year will bring, and we are afraid because fear has become our default mode of living life. We need the emotion of fear in our lives to set boundaries and to protect us. Fear becomes a problem when it lays claim to ownership of our lives and when it controls us. Paul told a young pastor named Timothy that "God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind" (2 Timothy 1:7). Fear can start out as an emotion but it can turn into a spiritual issue very quickly. When we become fear- filled we become ineffective for God and we struggle to live life to its fullest. The way to deal with a fear-filled life is to live a Spirit- filled life. A Spirit-filled life is a life that surrenders to God's leading. When God controls us and leads us, fear can't operate. Let's ask God to fill our hearts with His Holy Spirit and allow Him to guide us in life.

We have to deal with our envy. Envy is where we perceive someone has some advantage over us, and we don't like that they have that advantage. We secretly want the advantage taken from that person and given to us. The person who struggles with envy, is a person who is never satisfied with life. The writer of proverbs says, "A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones" (Proverbs 14:30). Envy is caused by some kind of hurt which has impressed on our being that we are "less-than" in life if someone has something that we don't. The person who envies others is someone who lacks contentment and peace. To deal with envy we need to confess it to God and ask Him to give us contentment in life.

"Stupid Hurts" are real. I have them and you have them. Let's allow God to help us rid ourselves of these and other problems this month. We are not stupid if we have hurts. We are stupid if we think they will go away by not dealing with them.