Misery loves company

Be the Light, Blessings, Encouragement, Glory of God, Good News, Hope, Jesus, Joy, Love of God, Peace 4 Minutes

I was thinking of making the title of this post, “Clouds of Doom” like the picture with this post, but thought better of it. Or as humor columnist Dave Barry would say, “But that would make a great name for a rock band.”

Miserable people like others to be unhappy. They just don’t understand someone who can be at peace, when it seems all the world around them is screeching to a grinding halt.

I know someone who spends time on social media “doom-scrolling.” Defined, it is the practice of obsessively checking online news for updates, especially on social media feeds, with the expectation that the news will be bad, such that the feeling of dread from this negative expectation fuels a compulsion to continue looking for updates in a self-perpetuating cycle.

Recently this person had a melt-down on what they read that day. Telling me over and over again, wanting me to join in the melt-down. But I had the deepest peace flowing up and out of me. I was hoping some of it would spill out onto them, but no luck. They were not at all happy that I did not give them the response they wanted. Oh well, I just silently prayed for them.

They mentioned a lot of folks believe that the end of the world is coming, and that there are groups of people trying to force it to happen. Like that’s going to work. Mere man is going to make Jesus return sooner than planned by forcing more evil on the world. Only the Father in heaven knows the day and hour of the return of Jesus. (Matt. 24:36 and Mark 13:32)

Like mere men with their evil plans can force the hand of God, to where God says, “Oh you’re right, I’d better change my mind and do this sooner that I planned. Thanks for showing me it was time.”

Not gonna happen!

I am doing research for a Women’s Bible study I’ll be doing in July on the first 6 chapters of Nehemiah.

He was the man in charge of rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem and putting up the gates. What I found on one of the gates was really cool.

The Eastern Gate of Jerusalem is also called the Golden Gate or the Beautiful Gate. (See Acts 3:2) In Hebrew, it is Sha’ar Harahamim, the “Gate of Mercy.” It is currently the oldest gate in the Old City, having been constructed in the 6th or 7th century AD. Also, it is the gate that gives the most direct access to the temple mount—if a person could pass through the arches of the Eastern Gate, he would be very close to where the Jewish temple used to stand. When Jesus entered Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives in Matthew 21, He used a gate in the same location as the current Eastern or Golden Gate.

The Eastern Gate was sealed shut in AD 1540–41 by order of Suleiman the Magnificent, a sultan of the Ottoman Empire. It’s believed that the reason for the closing of the Eastern Gate was to prevent the Jewish Messiah from gaining entrance to Jerusalem. Jewish tradition states that the Messiah will pass through the Eastern Gate when He comes to rule. The Muslim Suleiman was attempting to thwart the Messiah’s plans with sixteen feet of cement where the gate should be. In additional to that they also put a cemetery in front the the gate entrance to prevent Jesus from crossing. To paraphrase the wise Bugs Bunny, “They don’t know Him very well, do they?”

But it’s not just mere men, satan is the one ultimately behind misery. And misery loves company. Who could be more miserable than satan? He was a glorious angel in heaven with God, and gave it all up because he wanted to be God instead. How’d that work out for him? No wonder he’s miserable. Because when Jesus rose from the grave, satan’s fate was sealed, and he knows it. Which is why he wants to do his best to drag as many as he can into misery, every day.

But the real twist is the theory of speeding up the return of Jesus just hastens satan’s final outcome for all eternity. Didn’t think that one through all the way.

Which is why in my Bible memorizing challenge, my favorite one is what I started with.

“I praise the LORD! For when I trust in Him, I am blessed beyond expression. I will not be overthrown by evil circumstances. God’s constant care of me will make a deep impression on all who see it. I do not fear bad news, nor live in dread of what may happen. For I am settled in my mind that the LORD will take care of me. That is why I am not afraid, but can calmly face my foes. Evil men will see this, and slink away, gnashing their teeth, with their hope thwarted.” (Parts of Psalm 112 [TLB])

(Yes, I did type that out from memory without having to look it up!) (Did someone say “bonus points?”)

I think my peace is beyond their understanding. But deep down it means the truth is too close for comfort and it makes them uncomfortable. Ignoring The Truth does not make Him go away. Because the day will come when Jesus returns and every knee will bow, and every tongue confess that He is Lord! (Isa. 45:23, Phil. 2:10, Rom. 14:11)

Every mean every! No one will be exempt. And on the days where it seems evil is having its way, and we pray that Jesus will return soon, we don’t have to worry or be afraid. Because He gives us the peace that passes all understanding. (Phil. 4:7) There are days I can barely wrap my mind around why I am in such peace when surrounded by such evil, so I cannot even imagine how horrible it is for doom-scrolling unbelievers to try and understand it.

So stand firm in peace. Radiant it out, so hopefully it will spill over onto the poor folks having meltdowns, and they come to recognize their need for a Savior. Because that will hasten the return of Jesus, I think! “The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.” (2 Peter 3:9 [NLT])

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Published by God Still Speaks

I am a follower of Jesus with an insatiable hunger for the Word of God! I am doing my best to be obedient in sharing what I learn with others, with my own unique spin, using the way God made me, linear with a twist!

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47 thoughts on “Misery loves company”

  1. A US Army Chaplain friend is often asked, “Are you on Facebook?” He answers, “No, but I have my face in The Book.”

    As a former doom scroller, I’ve found I must be careful what I allow into my mind. God’s truth is the only ultimate reality. So, like my Chaplain buddy, I try to keep my face in The Book—Bible.

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  2. You’re so right that misery loves company. I know what you mean about somebody wanting to join them on their train of negativity. Even some people who I generally like and respect sometimes insist on their point when pointing out something wrong in the world or with other people we know in common. I’m like, “What a waste of time. I’m not interested.” Misery does like company, but you’re going to have to find different company.

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      1. I remember a person from years ago that road the bus to downtown Pittsburgh with me. Constant negativity. First I was annoyed bc she’d sit with me on the bus (2 seats) and I’d dread this. Then I turned it into a game for myself. I recall saying “What an incredibly beautiful sunshiny day”, thinking there was no way she could turn this into something negative. Her response “yes but all this sunshine is harming the ozone layer” or something weird and scientific. Oh my gosh! 🤣😆🤣

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      3. Exactly! I started becoming joyful bc I turned it into that game in my mind! “Wonder how she’s going to turn this statementinto a negative?” Or “is she going to beat her 10 negatives from yesterday?” Haha

        In fact, this is another business we could start…ideas on how to turn problems others have into great solutions!

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  3. I so LOVE this!
    I have intentionally disconnected?(I put a question mark, Because I know in my heart it was the Almighty!) From Social Media, I found myself not so much having a Meltdown but just not finding Peace or Joy in it, And at this stage in my life Peace and Joy is (If you will)
    THE FOOD FOR MY SOUL!
    Hallelujah and Amen

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  6. I love, love, LOVE THIS! And I so needed it today. Also, I promise to memorize “Parts of Psalm 112 [TLB]” beginning right after I press “Send.” I’ll be taking a digital sabbatical from posting on my blog for spiritual, mental, and physical reasons of my own. Please pray that I don’t post again until next year at the soonest. But I am going to keep reading your blog because I find that “God Still Speaks” to me through it. God bless you and your family, Sister!

    Be With You

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  9. “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:4-7)

    A good word from you! Thanks and…

    BONUS POINTS!

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    1. Thanks for sharing the whole context of the verse! God’s Word is truly beautiful and life giving! And what, bonus points. really? I think I’m going to cry for joy! (p.s. I knew I could count on you!)

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  10. Great post and really helpful because I have a friend just like this. Stuck in misery and trying to make everyone miserable too. She’s a doom scroller for sure. I’d not heard that expression before. She says she doesn’t like reading and can’t read her bible, yet she can tell you every bad headline from the news and constantly on FB. The irony of all this apparent inability to read is always lost on her. She doesn’t like it when we won’t join in the moan fest and yesterday said if she was a horse she’d be put down by now. Lord help her and us.

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    2. I got to thinking more about her as I was giving water to the chickens, and realize she does not want to read the Bible because it is a sharp as a two edged sword, and would cut through her misery. Then she’d have to choose either life or the pas she is on now. Will continue to pray!

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  12. People who tend to be negative want others to stoke their raging fire by acknowledging their thoughts. They are not looking to have a change of heart but to crush yours. Thanks for an interesting blog!

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  14. This is a perfect description of what us Scots call “a weerie Wullie” (william); the sort of person who only sees the negative in everything… even good weather: “och, we’ll pay fir this!”
    These folks can drain us on a bad day or take the shine off a great day.
    Certainly social media can be addictive and easy to source; let us tap our Bible App before the Facebook icon!

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  15. You get a bonus point for sure! I could be having the most miserable day but all I need to do is read one of your blogs to get turned around! 😆 Here’s a really cool thing that I found this morning. I started reading Psalms for my 90 day Bible journey and one of my most favorite verses in the Bible, is the KEY VERSE, in my Psalm’s synopsis (or whatever the summary pages are at the beginning of each book.) There are 150 chapters in Psalms and the one I love is the key! I just can’t get over it!

    Psalm 150:6 Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord

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