I'm Happy For You... (Not) - Crosswalk the Devotional - January 20

Truths observed at the intersection of faith and life by Crosswalk.com editors [Crosswalk.com Logo]( Crosswalk: The Devotional [Devotionals]( [Newsletters]( [e-Cards]( [Learn more about RevenueStripe...]( I'm Happy for You... (Not) by Kelly Givens Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. [Romans 12:15]( “Just installed our kitchen countertops! They’re GORGEOUS.” I rolled my eyes as I glanced at the pictures someone - no older than me - had just posted online. Picture after picture of their sparkly new kitchen, inside their custom built (custom built, I tell you!) house. I looked up from screen and into my own tiny apartment kitchen with its plain, generic countertops. Nothing custom-built in my place. I tried not to think about it, but it was too late - jealousy had flooded my heart. It’s scary how natural it flowed in. All I wanted in that moment was to be OUT of my apartment and into some glamorous space of my own. Can you relate? I love it when the [Bible]( is black and white. There’s no confusion surrounding [Romans 12:15]( - we’re called to rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. Pretty simple... except when it isn’t. I bet most of us wouldn’t have to think too hard to remember a time we failed pretty miserably at rejoicing over someone’s joy, or weeping as another wept. Why do we have this challenge? When we fail to rejoice with those who rejoice, there could be several reasons why, but here are some I thought of off the top of my head: insecurity, jealousy or envy, discontent, bitterness. What about when we fail to weep with those who weep? Here are some reasons (excuses, really) that come to mind: lacking compassion, both generally in life or toward a certain individual; perhaps not taking the time to listen or really put yourself in the person’s position; too busy to notice the suffering of others, distancing yourself emotionally from pain. I’ve thought of some scenarios that may indicate we’re failing at [Romans 12:15]( So what’s at the root of all of this? What’s the “sin beneath the sin,” so to speak? I think central to our failure to rejoice and weep with others is a preoccupation with self. We can’t step outside of ourselves long enough to truly step into both the blessings and sufferings of those around us. It’s taken me a while, but I’ve tried to make a habit of acknowledging the joys and sufferings of others without immediately inserting myself into the situation. This isn’t a natural inclination for me. Satan is the master of deception and loves to make us fall for one of the oldest tricks in the book: that everything is about us. Ultimately, the key to mastering [Romans 12:15]( isn’t just thinking about ourselves less. We’ve got to think about God more. People are most successful at eliminating bad behaviors or habits from their lives when they replace them with a good habit or behavior. So, I not only have to stop focusing on myself, but I have to replace all that time I spend thinking of myself with thinking of God. This is life-transforming; this is the key to killing pride - not simply humbling yourself, but exalting God - who is the only thing worthy of our exaltation. [CONTINUE READING →]( [Learn more about RevenueStripe...]( You May Also Like: [6 Major Differences between Christianity and the American Dream]( Felicia Alvarez Little by little, I had begun to interpret through the lens of the American Dream. But then, as I dwelled on mission experiences, I wondered if the American Dream was biblical.... [CONTINUE READING →]( [Learn more about RevenueStripe...]( [Can Loved Ones in Heaven Look Down on You?]( RJ Thesman Can our loved ones look down on us and occasionally visit? [CONTINUE READING →]( [Crosswalk.com Logo]( [Read about Salem Web Network]( | [Unsubscribe From This Email]( [Email Preference Center]( | [View in Browser]( © 2021 Salem Web Network. All rights reserved. 111 Virginia Street, Suite 500, Richmond, VA 23219. This email is never sent unsolicited. You are receiving this email because your email address, {EMAIL}, is signed up to receive newsletters, updates, and special offers from Crosswalk.com - The Devotional. [Link](