Okay so we all remember that trite rhyme,
“First is the worst,
Second is the best,
and third is the one with the hairy chest.”
That is the dumbest thing I have ever heard. First off, it had to have been written by a consistant loser. No one in their right mind thinks that second place is the best. That has got to be the worst feeling of all. You know in the olympics the guy on the lowest block (bronze) is praising God that he got on the block at all, the guy on top (gold) is feeling like the king of the world, and then there is the second place guy. He is without fail always ticked at being in second. But, according to this “cute” rhyme, he is the best. Hmm… I think not!
Am I all alone here?
Help me with this one. Have you ever been in second place? How about fourth? What about 354th? Yeah. Me too. How about when you don’t make the team, and you weren’t one place away from making it but more like three or four places away from making it. Or the promotion is open in your office and you throw your name in the ring with a fair level of expectance that you will get it and BOOM the guy from the copy room is now your boss.
How do you deal with the times when you best just doesn’t seem to be enough? I focus on two things.
The first is: Do not let pride gain any ground in your life!
Pride can ruin a person. Pride will convince you that you are better than they are, stronger than they are, prettier than they are and far more competent than they are. The Bible says that pride leads to destruction! Check out what 1 Peter 5:6 says…
“Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you at the proper time.”
I love Proverbs 4:23-26…
“Watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life. Put away from you a deceitful mouth and put devious speech far from you. Let your eyes look directly ahead and let your gaze be fixed straight in front of you. Watch the path of your feet and all your ways will be established.”
I love this because this is what happens when you become arrogant and proud. You start shooting off your mouth, or belittling the person or group of people who beat you out. I love that line, “let your eyes look directly ahead and let you gaze be fixed straight in front of you.” That is focus. That is intention. That is get yourself back in gear, pick yourself up off the ground and get going again. Pride won’t ruin that kind of determination. Your timing is usually never God’s timing.
The second is: Commit it to God.
I don’t know what it is, I don’t care. Whatever effort you are putting forth commit it to God: your relationships, your teammates, your marriage, your school work, your employment, your family, I don’t care what it is, give it over to God. Check out the rest of 1 Peter 5:7…
“casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.”
Give it up. Don’t give up the dreams and goals. Give up the extraneous effort and wasted sleep over those very difficult moments. Give it up and give it over. Take a few steps back and breath.
Do the best you have with the time, and resources you have and trust that God will use it to accomplish His plan!
~Peter