As soon as I heard my raised voice scream into the phone, I knew I had lost the battle, not the struggle with the internet provider but the conflict within me. Angry Lyn had re-surfaced again.
Built-up frustration weighed down on top of actively trying to work with someone who did not listen and kept interrupting me with a superior attitude she was more knowledgable. I asked to speak to her supervisor, and she refused. I exploded in rage, making the situation worse.
I felt shame and embarrassment. Disillusioned, I was unable to defuse the issue. I had missed several warning signs and ignored an urge to end the call ten minutes earlier.
I needed a minute and said so. Time to deep breathe, calm my mind, and re-direct my thoughts.
First, I apologized to the woman on the phone and ended the call.
Then I apologized to God in prayer. My language, yelling, and behavior did not show my light for being a fully devoted follower of Jesus. I might have harmed where ever she was on her faith journey. I voiced my frustration in the internet issue and how I felt. I asked for help.
I reflected on what went wrong. When Angry Lyn breaks through, I have learned to pay attention to my heart when something happens.
I should not have made the call when I did. I was reacting to the issue repeating without results in getting it solved over the past week. I didn’t ask the Holy Spirit to help me. Can you imagine how His help could have changed the conversation? I took control of the issue, making several calls a day not getting anywhere and getting more and more frustrated. Yes, you can even take internet issues to the Father. He delights in showing me; He cares about the little things just as much as ordinary and significant things.
I learned from this experience. (Thank you, Holy Spirit)
- If you are already frustrated, avoid an awkward conversation, or a call to an internet tech.
- The Holy Spirit is your helper, teacher, guide. I make it a practice to ask Him for guidance beforehand, pray, give me the right words to say, keep me focused, close my mouth and open my ears to hear, and may I show Jesus’ love.
- Learn to lay everything from internet issues to wound healing, relationships, home issues, disappointments, your needs, and miracles. If it keeps you from spending time with God, it is important enough to lay at the Father’s feet.
- Allow yourself to walk away if you or the other person is angry.
Remember these words from Proverbs.
Respond gently when you are confronted and you’ll defuse the rage of another. Responding with sharp, cutting words will only make it worse. Don’t you know that being angry can ruin the testimony of even the wisest of men?
Proverbs 15:1 TPT
I read Proverbs 15 the next morning.
I prayed for guidance and wisdom.
I laid the internet issues and several other things at the feet of the Father. All the time I spent on hold or explaining the problem, or sat and worried about what I could not do. Time, I could have been in Jesus’ presence.
I made the call again, waited less than a minute for a tech who listened, and while she was checking the system, the connection dropped. The next day a tech came to the house and was able to enter after two and a half hours he left. The issue was solved.
See what God can do?
