Processing My Character Flaws

How God helped me unexpectedly today

I have been petitioning the Lord a great deal recently in relation to my character, especially the ways in which I might be more loving. I have experienced quite a lot of anger over what I have perceived to be injustices in my relationships and circumstances, and I haven’t been sure whether I have needed to change something in myself or in my situation.

Today, I got off the phone after a really positive conversation with my psychiatrist and I had some worship music playing in my living room. The lyrics to the song that was playing were echoing 1 Corinthians 13, and the apostle Paul’s teaching about love. I heard the words ‘love is not irritable or resentful’ and they immediately struck me and I realised that those are exactly the feelings that I’ve been struggling with.

It’s amazing how simply hearing the words ‘irritable’ and ‘resentful’, and realising their significance for my current state of mind, triggered some healing in me. Throughout the rest of the day, when I noticed feelings of irritability and resentment arising, I remembered that song and how God had helped me through its lyrics, and meditated on how my thoughts could accord better with the aforementioned teaching of Paul. I subsequently felt a great deal more peaceful.

God’s timing is perfect. If you’re struggling with aspects of your character that you feel aren’t as loving as they could be and you would like to change them, He can help you with that. If you pray for your character to be shaped so that it is ever-more like Jesus, I’m confident that the Lord will help you to achieve that, perhaps in ways you don’t expect.

The important part is to have the willingness to change, and trust that God in His goodness will help you.