A Prayer When You Can't Shake a Bad Attitude
By Amanda Idleman
“But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth.” - Colossians 3:8
We all have those days when we truly just find ourselves emotionally struggling to get through the day. Yesterday, my oldest son had one of those days. He kept retreating to his room, away from friends and his siblings. When I went upstairs to ask him what was up, he replied that he was worn out and didn’t think he had the strength to be kind to the people around him. I was truly impressed at his level of self-awareness and how proactive he was in making a safe space in his room to play with Legos just so he wouldn’t get caught up in anger. I wish I was able to catch myself before I get to the emotional explosion level!
His model of taking a quiet retreat to let yourself rest when you are feeling negative is something that we all can learn from. One thing seems to be universally true: When you are stressed out, it gets really hard to be kind and empathetic with others. Weariness leads to anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk. When we lose focus, hope, and strength and grow disconnected from God’s life-giving Spirit, we start seeing ourselves let chaos overtake us.
Galatians 6:9 put it this way, “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” The Bible teaches from Genesis that the anecdote to weariness is embracing an intentional rhythm of rest in your life. Genesis 2:1-3 we see God, the Creator of all things, rest on the seventh day. He did this not because he was limited but because he wanted to paint a picture of what health looks like. We work, we take delight in our work, and we rest.
Having a bad attitude is usually a very telling sign that you are suffering from exhaustion, frustration, unforgiveness, or grief. The place where we find healing and restoration from those very real and taxing emotions is in the quiet place of rest. Psalm 91:1 paints a picture of how we find rest as God’s child. It says, “Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.” Shelter makes us think of safety, and his shadow covers us. It’s a picture of God going before us, keeping us safe so we have the ability to recover. No matter what feels heavy, unresolved, or utterly frustrating to the core, God is able to go before you in those things and make a way.
If you are stuck feeling grumpy, I invite you to take a moment to pause. Maybe call a friend and share what’s on your heart, sit alone to pray and journal about what’s overwhelming your heart, or let worship music give you the hope-filled words you need to hear in order to climb out of your funk. Sometimes, something as simple as taking a nap can be the most spiritually beneficial practice you could do when your mind and body are feeling emotionally taxed. Our moods are one way our bodies communicate to us that we need rest.
Let’s pray:
God, I come to you with my heavy burdens and ask for your divine rest. Would you carry my frustration, pain, anxiety, and grief? I thank you that your word promises that you go before us. Go before me today, making space for rest, encouragement, resolution, prayer, and worship. I am sorry for the ways I have not prioritized rest in my life. Let me take your model of work, delight, and rest seriously. Help me to set boundaries in my life that will protect my mind, body, and soul from fatigue that can cost me my peace. Help me to trust you with the things that I truly have no say or control over. My mind and body want to live in a place of negativity but we know with you all things are possible. You are slow to anger and quick to give grace. Help me to embrace your grace for myself and for those I love, too. Amen.
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