Because of You...

The blame game is an easy trap to fall into. It starts early in life. Every morning I have playground duty at school I feel like I'm witness to the blame game. Little kids start yelling and pushing each other. I go to break it up. They both are yelling "he started it" or "she called me stupid." It is somehow an ingrained behavior to point fingers at the person next to you. It happens with our siblings. It happens with our peers. It happens. 

I am guilty of the blame game for sure. Not necessarily to someone's face, but over the years I have found myself blaming a whole string of people for things that have happened. Sitting here thinking about those things, I can hear the phrases that I have thought or said. 

Because of you I am not a confident person. 

Because of you I'm not going to medical school. 

Because of you I have a hard time trusting people. 

Because of you I'm afraid at night. 

Because of you I feel like a failure. 

Because of you I'm in debt. 

These have all run through my head at different times. And the sad thing? I even started having those sorts of thoughts towards God. Because of you I don't have a husband. Because of you my girls are going to grow up without a Father. Because of you my life course has been altered several times and I feel lost and alone. It's hard to admit that. I'm sure I'm not the first person, or the last to have those sorts of thoughts. I'm not proud of them. But I am proud to say that I have changed. 

When you change your heart and start to press deeper into our Heavenly Father, your perspective changes. Your outlook is different. You start to see little blessings everywhere. Even the negative things that happen you can look at and find the message in the mess. And it brings peace and joy to your heart. It brings a new sense of calm in a world filled with anxiety. It gives you a sense of purpose in this world. 

I have been through a lot in my 38 years on this Earth. Things that I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy. Things that I'm still working through with an amazing therapist and by the grace of God. I walk each day with newly-opened eyes to the beauty and peace that this life has to offer. 

I'm still playing the blame game. But the messages I'm getting and releasing are so much better. 

Lord, because of you I am a survivor.  Because of you my soul wounds are being healed. Because of you I have a new-found purpose in this life. Because of you my chains are broken and I am free. Because of you I have defeated inner demons and real demons that have tormented me - but no more! Because of you I have victory over sin and death and the devil. Because of you I will have eternal life. 

Because of Him, I have found true peace and true happiness and so many earthly blessings. And I believe that He placed me on those paths for a reason. I have found my message in my mess. I know my purpose in going through the things we have been through. I get to help others. I have been placed for the purpose of bringing others to see the light that I have seen. Laying bloody and broken and with soul wounds was not the end of my story, but rather an awesome new beginning. A chance to rise out of the ashes, dust myself off, and do great things for Him and His kingdom. So I share this with you this morning, and hope that you too will find your message in your mess. And if you can't I hope that you can come to me and I will help! I will share the blessings that I have found. The peace that has found me. 

Don't play the blame game! Don't blame others and don't blame yourself and don't blame God!  Ask for God's plan for your life and ask for His help in dusting you off and finding your purpose on this earth, the purpose behind your story. We all have one! Ask Him to help you figure out where you're supposed to go with it! 

Thank you, Father! Because of you...