In childhood we form an attachment to characters we hear in stories that are read to us. When we go to the movies, we develop a love for some characters more than others. The choices of those characters depend on which we connect with the most.
You may connect with a loveable bear or a blue mule. Perhaps a worried pig or an obsessive rabbit. Or maybe your childhood centered around some bears that involved feelings, like caring, sharing or grumpy. Or maybe your desire was to be a superhero that wore a cape or a mask.
Any one of these childhood fantasy beings still brings about a familiarity when we think about them. I personally had a thing for blue animals; whether it was a mule (donkey) or a bear. I identified with a woe is me kind of animal. But inside I was grumpy and expected things to happen to me that were not always great. My affection for these two animals resulted in a somewhat obsession over them for a while.
I grew up and out of that obsession. But did I really? Depression is a constant friend to me. And quite frankly, I am grumpy a lot of the time. But let’s go ahead and add the little pink pig that worries. I am an e-g-p combo (first letter of each of their names, due to copyrights, I can not use). But where does that leave me with my relationship with God?
In childhood, I had no relationship with God. In my teen years, I did not understand the full need of a relationship with God. In my early adulthood, I understood some of that need but denied it because I was selfish. Now in my older years, I understand the need of that relationship and recognize my short comings.
It is easy to fall into those patterns we find in our storybook characters. When things are not going according to OUR plans, it is easy to say, “Woe is me.” When we focus on our problems instead of taking them to the cross, it is easy to say, “Oh dear!” And sometimes all we can be is grumpy. (Discontentment has a tendency to make us grumpy.)
So how do we overcome our “characters”? By finding better “characters” within scripture. Replacing our worry with Psalm 34:17 “The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles.” By replacing the words and actions we feel when we say “woe is me” with Psalm 40:1-3 “I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the LORD and put their trust in him.”
And when all else fails to conquer our old “characters”, then we need to pray. Romans 8:26 “In the same way, the Spirit helps in our weakness. We do not know that we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.” Remember that worry adds nothing but trouble to your life. The children of God wandered in the desert for forty years, God bestowed many blessings upon them and all they could do was grumble. You are not alone in your “woe is me-grumpy-worried” life. So, when you can’t “snap out of it”, dive into it. There is a scripture for that.
Love y'all...cmm