Several months ago, our beloved orthodontist moved out of state. I cried when he left, but not because we were good friends or anything. Our whole family just really liked him and his super friendly staff.
It doesn’t take me long to get attached to people I like.
His replacement is a darling, kind woman, and we were disappointed when she closed the office location close to our house.
We were further disappointed when she joined another orthodontist’s office. We didn’t see her or the original staff too often.
Because of all this and other reasons, I decided it was time to find a new orthodontist that better fit our location and needs. But before I could do this, I had to break up with our old one.
And let me tell you: There’s not much I enjoy less than uncomfortable conversations and hard goodbyes. Maneuvering through them is like climbing a mountain: tiring, overwhelming, and just plain hard.
I managed to follow through with the break-up the only way I know how: Making myself the bad guy as much as possible. I heard my voice repeat these phrases and more:
“I’m so sorry, but…”
“Thank you so much for all you’ve done…”
“It’s not you, it’s me.”
“Can we still be friends?”
No matter how I tried to pretty up the deed, I still waded through plenty of uncomfortable tension.
Living out this Christian life often feels this way, too. You know you need to break up with unhealthy habits, but the tension of living in new skin post break-up feels mighty uncomfortable. Our flesh craves the old way when it was first in line.
But here’s the good news: After wading through the prickly brambles of uphill tension, we are promised a better view. New habits form a little at a time, and we see glimpses of tension turning to triumph. And when we are tempted to do a u-turn backwards, we are promised a way out.
While our feet are planted on this earth, we won’t be able to completely break up with tension. But we can move through it, thriving in closer fellowship with Jesus while we do.
What about you? Where tension is concerned, what’s your mountain to climb?
Oh I am so like you … I always take the blame on myself for everything. And lately the tension is building right between my shoulders!! The weight of carrying all this responsibility for everyone and everything is literally causing me pain. I keep going back to the Lord’s promise, “Take my yoke upon you … for My burden is light.” When life feels heavy, I know I’m carrying the wrong burden. But oh how hard it is to lay that wrong thing down sometimes.
xo
TL
Oh, that’s a good word, friend. Thanks for sharing it with me today. I love you.
love you too.
a lot.
Interesting analogy. Break ups are never easy whether they are with people or habits. I just lean on Him to get through…
I can so relate to this! Knowing that there’s a dispute between me and someone else makes me feel so tense. Having those “clearing the air” sorts of conversations never fails to make me feel nervous and they get my stomach all tied up in knots. I just have to pray that God will give me the words. And now, thanks to this, maybe I can look forward to that view up the mountain.
I have an unhealthy habit I really need to break-up with and today has been a day full of messages that I know God is putting in front of me for reasons. I’m thankful for how He has used your words today. I know what He offers is a new life, but letting go of what is comfortable is so hard… But I know it’s time to surrender and trust Him. Thank you for your message.
Praying for you right now, sister. You aren’t in this alone!
This is exactly what I have been going through thank you for sharing.
Kristen, I find that it is in the moments like those you described with your orthodontist that our faith is tested in the day to day. How will I react to the situations that come my way daily, and that stretch me and require me to exercise my faith in ways that may not be glamorous, but are very real. This really made me think…thank you for writing!
Oh, that comment is golden, Amy. Yes ~ here’s to the real – if unglamorous – day to day stretching of faith.
Really, we are sometimes the same person! I get attached to people too and hate uncomfortable conversations and hard goodbyes. I just don’t like awkward! I am reading Greater by Steven Furtick and in one of the chapters that I just read, he wrote about how we are a sentimental people. We hold onto all manner of things, whether it be habits, relationships, circumstances, stuff, etc… God wants us to let those things go completely so that we can step into the greater purposes that He has for us.
Now you’re the third person in a few days who has mentioned Steven Furtick to me. Obviously, I’m meant to check out this author!
Thank you, Karina. Your generous spirit inspires me.
Awe. Thank you! You’ve never read his books? Have you heard him speak? He is the Pastor of Elevate Church in Charlotte, NC. He is LEGIT!!!!!!! http://www.elevationchurch.org
For me, it’s an unhealthy relationship with food…after years of treating it like an adversary, letting it morph into something that took over my life and my heart, I’m finally learning to reshape my perspective. And yes – sometimes the only thing that keeps me at it is the dream of the better view 🙂