The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!”
And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!”
…God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it,
so that there should be no division in the body,
but that its parts should have equal concern for each other.
1 Corinthians 12: 21, 24b-25
Have you ever asked someone to do something for you and they said, “Sure. No problem. I’ll do it.” Then, sometime later, you ask that person to do the same thing for you and they say, “Sure. No problem. I’ll do it.” Then again, at a later date, you ask them again and they say, “Sure. No problem. I was just thinking about that. I’m going to do it today.” Finally, when you decide to simply do it yourself, the person says, “I was just about to do it.” After you give them that look (you know the one) you say, “Oh that’s alright. Don’t worry about it. It’s no big deal.” Then, you vow that you will NEVER ask them to do anything for you ever again.
But God…
(Church say, “But God.”)
But God places you in a position where you need that very person again. (UGH!) When you realize it, you do EVERYTHING in your power to avoid asking them for help. But, despite your greatest effort, you must swallow your pride and break the vow you made to yourself. In agony, you ask the person for help, and this time they come through for you. Now doesn’t that make you feel better about them?
NOPE! If you’re anything like me, you’re still holding on to that first impression of them not being dependable, and that vow you made too. It’s really hard to let someone “off the hook” once you’ve nailed them up there.
So what do you do?
First, let go of that vow you made, and all those “nevers” along with it.
Next, try talking to the person before you write them off. Explain that it’s important to you that they keep their word, and that they’re honest about their ability and willingness to help. Or, at the very least, to let you know if they’re having difficulty doing what you asked. That way, you can make other arrangements if you need to, and it removes any extra pressure from them.
Finally, read 1 Corinthians 12 and remind yourself that although we don’t think we need those people who disappoint us, we really do. Remember that each person is part of the body of Christ, and is vital to His mission.
Realize that God has placed them in your life for a reason. Not just to do that one thing you can’t do for yourself, but also to remind you, as Hezekiah Walker sang, that we need each other to survive.
(Contributing Writer: Marlena Patterson)