The transformation of Charles Dickens’ miserly, people-hating Scrooge into a generous benefactor has warmed the hearts of generations. Maybe, like me, you’ve found yourself joining Albert Finney’s Scrooge in singing “I hate people.” Rubbing up against certain people can bring out the Scrooge in all of us. Is there a remedy for that prickly side of us?
If I could show you the secret to a joyful life, a life not pulled down by others’ irritating ways, would you be interested? Read the verse below carefully. What stands out to you?
“We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with joy, always thanking the Father. He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to his people, who live in the light” (Col. 1:11-13 NLT).
This Scripture highlights three important counters to the Scrooge-side of us:
- The power of the Holy Spirit
- Thanksgiving
- An eternal perspective
Holy Spirit Power
“We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need.”
When I think of receiving God’s power, I picture the power to conquer the world. Ironically, Paul says God’s power equips us to conquer our flesh. When we surrender our will and lives to the Holy Spirit, He provides “all the endurance and patience” we need. Could there be a more practical power? The power to thrive among people, even when they irritate us.
How would your life look if you had “all you need” to patiently endure those who thoughtlessly push your buttons?
To appropriate that power, we need the Holy Spirit to fill us. This means giving Him the driver’s seat and tapping into His endless reservoir of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Gal. 5:22-23). We choose to walk in the Spirit as a way of life and align our individual steps in cooperation with Him.
A Powerful Partnership.
“So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves” (Gal. 5:16 NLT).
The Christian life is not self-improvement. It is partnership.
God leads. The Spirit supplies the power. God even supplies the desire. Our role is to trust and obey—to work out what He works in us (Phil. 2:12). As we yield to Him, the Spirit produces what we cannot manufacture on our own.
True patience with irritating people comes not from willpower. It’s fruit.
Thanksgiving
“May you be filled with joy, always thanking the Father.”
Have you noticed how thanksgiving produces joy? We don’t wait to feel thankful before we give thanks. We count our blessings and offer the sacrifice of thanksgiving. Thanksgiving is both a means to joy and a result of walking in the power of the Holy Spirit. Ephesians 5:18-21 also connects being filled with the Spirit to joy, thanksgiving, and harmony in relationships.
Gratitude softens the Scrooge edge.
Eternal Perspective
“He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to his people, who live in the light.”
When we remember our great salvation, daily irritations shrink. Our Savior not only removed our sins but also empowers us to rise above our baser desires. Remembering our rich inheritance and all that awaits us lifts us out of the irritations of this world.
Like Scrooge, we’ve received a second chance at life. When we recognize our inheritance and invite the Holy Spirit to live His life through us, our tune, like Scrooge’s, changes from “I hate people” to “I love life.”
What if you had all you need to patiently endure the people who push your buttons? #relationships, #hope Share on XResources
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Linda Evans Shepherd discusses relationships and forgiveness with me in this encouraging conversation.
Blessings,
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Interesting Deb! I preached an Advent series of sermons based on on “A Christmas Carol” . So many comparisons to our lives today beginning with our own ‘hardness of heart’ at times.
Toby, I’m sure that was a great series!
Boy is this extra relevent in our world today!!!
Ann, I didn’t think of that, but you’re so right. That verse smacked me between the eyes. We need God’s power to persevere with patience and joy in life and relationships.
“True patience with irritating people comes not from willpower. It’s fruit.” Amen! A few years ago, I was inspired by the Holy Spirit to start praying for fruit in my family’s lives. They would have to draw closer to Jesus to receive that fruit, which also means if they are closer to Jesus, the problems (whatever they were) would get solved.
Love the scriptures you shared to illustrate!
Jerralea, that understanding changes things, doesn’t it. As you said, the focus becomes drawing near to Christ.
PS: I also must say … I need that fruit in my life, too!
Me too!
“….God’s power equips us to conquer our flesh.” I love how you penned that. He calls us to love God, others, and ourselves; and through Him we can do these things. He is our equipper (but, oh, how I can still struggle trying to do it on my own)!
I think we all do! So hard to give that up. 🙂
Debbie, this is such a good post and filled with much wisdom. “True patience with irritating people comes not from willpower. It’s fruit.” So true. We will never be able to muster up the willpower. It must come from the Lord, and He grows it in us. May He grow it in each of us, in increasing measure.
Amen, Joanne! May He increase in me.
Debbie, such a well written and encouraging article! I love the redemptive aspect of Dickens’ Scrooge, and I have always felt it was a perspective shift. As you mention, when we turn our eyes on our eternal salvation, daily or small irritations seem to diminish. Oh to keep my eyes on Jesus!
It makes all the difference, doesn’t it?
So much wisdom and hope in your message, Debbie. If we’re honest, there are some people we struggle to like, but with the help of our loving Savior we can love them and live a life filled with gratitude. Thank you, Debbie, for this inspiring message.
Katherine, yes there are. And some that we love deeply can still push our buttons. I believe God uses them to sand off the rough spots in us!
The power to thrive – in irritating circumstances and among irritating people – I want to thrive instead of withdraw. The power of the Holy Spirit combined with Thanksgiving – oh, how I want the fruit of the spirit to grow and, as you so beautifully say, “Soften the Scrooge edges.” Thank you for this today! I needed that reminder!
Thank you, Maryleigh. It’s a reminder I need too.
I don’t know how many times I read that verse before it really sank in. His strength and power for endurance and patience–and not just a grin-and-bear it reaction, but with joy! I definitely need His strength for that.
Barbara, it’s funny how certain verses jump out at you at different times. I got a NLT a couple of years ago and when I read that verse in it recently it speared me. God’s power is for conquering practical, everyday irritations with grace and joy! I love that.
Thank you Debbie. Always an important message to be reminded. I pray I can love like Christ in these circumstances and thrive.
Me too, Yvonne.
Dear Debbie – Even the title of your post brings a smile and some hope-filled joy! May our ‘daily irritations’ shrink by leaps and bounds as we focus on who our Triune God is!
Happiest Monday to you, friend!
Amen. Thank you, Linda. You too.
I admit there are days when things go wrong and I feel like putting on my “Scrooge” hat. But I know these are often the best times to persevere and be a witness for Christ by how I handle them. Thanks for pointing out some specific aids to assist us on those days.
Candyce, I think most of us still have those times! I think I’m a pretty nice person until I come up against someone who rubs me the wrong way!
An uplifting conversation here, thank you. Yeah get squeezed and see what oozes out. This is really helpful in today’s relationships especially for me. I was recently blessed with a daughter-in-love/law.
Thanks, Tsitisi. I want the fruit of the Spirit to come out. So I need to be sure I’m constantly being filled with Him.