Toxic People
“My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, nor detest His correction; For whom the Lord loves He corrects.” Proverbs 3:11-12a
I get a kick out of it when the Lord corrects me. Once the rebuke has passed and I’m licking my wounds, I even manage to chuckle at how small I am compared to His greatness…and how bold I can be to think that I can get away with anything when He’s always present and ever checking me!!
I made a decision to distance myself from a situation and today one of the parties reached out to me and after our communication I remained steadfast in my decision. I found myself praying for the situation and those involved and then I began interceding for others and finally for myself, praying that I had heard from Him and was not making emotional decisions. I felt peace and then it was time for me to shower. I again thought of the situation and the word “toxic” came up. I thought of the many times I had heard that term as it relates to people and how wise it was to remove toxic people from one’s life. “Yeah, that’s exactly what I’m dealing with here…toxic people,” I said to myself. I had one foot in the shower when I know it was Him who spoke and how dare I open my mouth and say out loud what He was speaking to my heart. Here’s what I heard come from my mouth…the nerve of me: “If toxic people bring out the toxicity in you wouldn’t that make you toxic too? Don’t you all have work to do?” Thanks Lord…and you’re a poet too? Apparently…He is that. What came next was the realization that perhaps toxic people or difficult situations are allowed in our lives for us to determine how far along we are in our maturing process. They are sent for us to determine just how “there” we are. It would seem that I am not quite there.
I laughed out loud at myself as I envisioned me looking out and wondering why my vision was impaired…oh yeah, it’s that tree that’s imbedded in my eye…getting in the way of my being able to clearly see the speck in yours. Now
does this mean, that I’ll reverse my decision to distance myself from that situation I mentioned earlier? I don’t think so, because I know that I know that it’s not a good one for me. I also know that today’s revelation has brought me right back down to my knees and I’m finding myself at His feet where I’m safest, where I’m quiet, where I’m home.
Here’s the last thing I heard as I was rinsing the conditioner from my hair…”Your reaction to a situation paints a picture of the condition of your heart.” Ouch, Hallelujah! — Back to the lab I go!!
Armoured Up 
Oh Boy..Oh Boy…SPLAT right between my eyes that went..!!Thank you sissy and especially Thank you Jesus for His HOLY SPIRIT! Love u..
Me too Carmen! Arlene really nailed it here for me too! I have also had that laugh out loud at myself response to that very verse about the tree in my eye as well!!!!! God definitely has a sense of humor when it comes to those kinds of verses.
AND…. I loved the shower scene! I have often wondered if it is just me or if God joins others in the shower too! I have found Him in there with me all the time! MAYBE it is because we have to be quiet and listen.
Love that I found your blog Arlene… looking forward to more!
Ha! I love your shower comment. I’ve done some of my best crying, praying and writing in the shower! xo
I think God has a sense of humor, don’t you?! 🙂
Absolutely! 🙂
I returned to this– such a great illustration!
I found this again. I really think that titles are important! It makes me come back to things in my life going on. You’ve always been this kind of silent prayer partner for me as I wander back through some of the doors I’ve already gone through on your blog! Yes, I totally know what you were talking about in regard to crying and praying in the shower! Like I said, I have no choice but to shut up and listen in there! LOL!
xoxo
di