Idols....

It’s interesting to watch episode after episode of American Idol each season.  You watch these ‘nobodies’ slowly become ‘somebody’ simply because of how they are looked at by authorities in the business.  Week after week, we watch these ‘nobodies’ gaining confidence, bettering their looks, singing with more authority each time they take the stage. After several weeks of being judged by the music experts, the american audience becomes the judge. Millions of votes are being cast for these ‘nobodies’.  In break rooms all over the world, people are comparing notes about them.  Some of them are becoming household names, being discussed at the dinner tables of America.  Wow.  Whether they win or not, they become idols overnight.  They are forever changed because of a television show.  Some appear to handle it, others clearly do not.  Literally overnight, they become placed so high upon a pedestal that people will wait hours just to catch a glimpse of them, to hear them sing.  And what they wouldn’t give to actually meet them, to talk to them, to touch them. 

There are times in our lives that for one reason or another we are placed upon a pedestal in someone else’s eyes.  It feels good.  Everything looks pretty good from up there, doesn’t it? But the fact is, we shouldn’t be up there.  Whether it’s because we’ve come to someone’s aid, or we have taught a valuable lesson to someone at just the right time, or we’ve been used by God Himself to intervene in someone’s life, we shouldn’t be up there....ever.  God is the only one that should ever take that position in anyone’s life.

Perhaps you are that to a friend that is desperately hurting right now.  Continue helping her.  Continue being used in her life.  But get off that pedestal.  Take your position next to her.  Trust me, the fall from up there is painful.  It’s humiliating.  Point her eyes upward,  not toward you, but toward her Savior.  He’s the only one she needs to be looking up to.

Perhaps you are that one that is hurting.  You are clamouring for any thread of hope you can.  Is there one or maybe more in your life that you are holding way higher than they need to be? Do you hang on to every word they say? Do you immediately call them or text them when the clouds begin to loom?  Do you count on them to talk you off that cliff?  Do you need their touch to feel healing?  Do you find yourself relying on the fact that the Lord will use them to make you feel hope again instead of relying on Him alone to give you hope?

Hear me here, sister. I’m not saying that we shouldn’t be Christ in others’ lives....and that we shouldn’t allow others to be Christ in our lives when we are hurting.  But we must be careful on both sides of that equation. Before we know it, we can become someone else’s idol or allow someone dear to us to become our idol. God will absolutely use others in our lives to bring hope, to bring healing.  But, they cannot become the source of our hope and our healing. Perhaps you are thinking of one right now.  If you feel like you have become her source of hope and healing, for cryin’ out loud, don’t abandon her.  She needs you.  Talk to her.  Redirect her gaze toward Him. It may take a while.  Remember, you've been an incredible source of strength for her.  Do it slowly and do it gently, but do it.  He needs to be her Savior, not you.  Seek His wisdom in what your role is and be ok with stepping down a notch or two. 

If you are the one in need and you know there is one that you are holding too high, relying too heavily on, talk to them about it. Pray with them about it. It will be difficult. You’ve come to rely on them daily. They may not be so eager to give up their position, or they may be relieved to do so.  It may be a friend, it may be a sister, or it may even be your husband.  Turn your gaze upward and an incredible thing will happen.  You won’t have to give them up as a support system.....but He will begin to use them in ways He wants to use them in your life. The support will be anointed by Him.  Wow!  How I wish someone would’ve told me that when I was suffering. 

He means it when He says, “you shall have no other gods before Me”.  Yep, He means it.