Shrug part 2
You can only do what you can do. Seems simple, right? Logical. The problem is when we allow people to push and pull us past what we can do. And, yes, I understand that the Lord will stretch us. I think you have to go out on a limb sometimes, because that's where the fruit is. That's not what I'm talking about. I'm talking about letting your maximum effort be enough. The part of our key memory verse that I want to focus on today is, well, let's get the whole verse again first. "If you're not welcomed, not listened to, quietly withdraw. Don't make a scene. Shrug your shoulders and be on your way" (Mark 6:11 MSG). And the part I want to focus on today is "not listened to." Because I've found, in my own life, that "being right" can be one of the most frustrating things ever. Having the answer, and giving the answer, and having it fall on deaf ears. Because you can't MAKE someone listen to you. Really, you can't make anybody do anything. And if you do make them do it, against their will, is it really worth it? Is it really real? If you have to beg someone for something, is it worth having? I don't think so. And if you have to cajole, or manipulate, or bully, or trick someone into giving you something, or doing something... it's not worth it. People are who they are and they're going to do what they're going to do. Sometimes the best thing YOU can do is just get out of the way. Don't make a scene. Don't keep fighting when the battle is lost. Do what you can do. Give it your all. Give what you've got. And let that be enough. Because it either will be... or it won't be. And either way, that's all you can do. The old Arkansas wisdom, right? You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it float on its back. You can be right... but if you can't get through to the person you're dealing with... does it really matter? If you're shouting into the void... just stop shouting. Realize and understand that it's not your job to fix everything. You were not created to save the world. That's not your job, or your calling. You were created to be loved and to love. And, I've said this before, by loving someone you might just save THEIR world. So love IS important. I'm not trying to say that it isn't. What I'm trying to say is... no matter how good your message is, no matter how right you are, there are people out there who simply aren't going to listen. And that's ok. Look at Jeremiah 7:27-28, "Therefore thou shalt speak all these words unto them; but they will not hearken to thee: thou shalt also call unto them; but they will not answer thee. But thou shalt say unto them, This is a nation that obeyeth not the voice of the LORD their God, nor receiveth correction: truth is perished, and is cut off from their mouth." Basically God was telling Jeremiah, "They aren't going to listen to you. Tell them anyway." Because once you've done your part... it doesn't matter how people respond to it. Because at least you did your part. You can hold your head high knowing you did that much, at least. So, yes, give it all you've got. But after that... let it be what it's going to be. Do what you can do. But don't try to do more than you can do. Don't try to do what you can't do. If someone can't, or won't, pick up what you're laying down... shrug your shoulders and move on.