Imagine you’re sitting in a coffee shop with a close personal friend. You’re drinking your favourite beverage and chatting about life and what’s been happening lately. As you are talking about a tough situation your facing, suddenly, your friend says to you, “I have something to say about that.” How do you react?
Do you immediately close yourself off? Sit back in your chair and fold you arms getting ready to defend yourself against what they have to say? Or do you lean in closer, prepare yourself and anticipate what they are going to say. It’s easy to assume that we automatically respond warmly whenever someone approaches us, however, sometimes our response to Jesus is less than amicable. It can be uncomfortable to have Jesus, or another human, speak into our hearts and situations. You’ve maybe heard the saying that “God responds in only a few ways, ‘Yes, Wait, or I Have Something Better in Mind/Trust Me’.” I think this profound statement can be true in most situations, but what if he responds in a way that is not the one we want?
Receiving anything (gifts, affection, correction, help) is something that is overly difficult for many people. But there are a few ways that we can reframe our mind to receive better.
1. “Let all you do be done in love” – 1 Corinthians 6:14. Whether giving or receiving remind yourself that the other person is worthy of love and appreciation. Let Christ’s love for you dictate your actions towards yourself and others.
2. “All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God” – 2 Corinthians 4:15. Nothing that God does in your life is to harm you, there is always a purpose and a promise in every trial.
3. “For my grace is sufficient for you and my power is made perfect in weakness” – 2 Corinthians 12:9. Receiving help in any way is not a form of weakness, it shows the strength of God inside you and inspires thankfulness.
Thankfulness, humility, and trust are keys to receiving anything from anyone, but especially when receiving anything from Jesus.