When it comes to handling difficulties, challenges, and even the day to day stressors, we have choices to make, so choose well . For example, if we are falsely accused, we can either react defensively and become resentful or we can turn the other cheek and respond with the love of Jesus. When someone hurts us, it can make us closed off and bitter or we can rise above the pain, showing a godly resilience to persevere.  On a smaller scale, if the weather is foul or unseasonably cold, we can either grumble and complain or determine to have a cheerful attitude, becoming sunshine and warmth to those around us.  Ultimately, when struggles and conflict linger we must be careful to maintain a good attitude and not become weary in well doing.  These are some of the kinds of choices we have to make every single day.

Now, why is it that we handle some situations with poise and confidence, while others hit us differently and frustration or fear seem to overtake our ability to see beyond the moment?  It’s as if our faith is temporarily forgotten and our emotions get the best of us.  This happens when we lose sight of God’s eternal purpose and forget He has a plan for the things He allows to come our way.

 Believe it or not, God can turn our struggles into stories of triumph if we surrender our will to His.  Yes, we can bring difficulties on ourselves by making bad choices and we often have to live with the consequences.  But even then, it does not mean it’s beyond God’s ability to reach into the situation and turn it for good.  God has a plan and knows the end from the beginning.  When we keep Him in mind and remember there is a purpose for all we go through, it helps keep things in perspective and the struggle doesn’t seem so overwhelming.

None of us are exempt from the trials of life.  Job 23:10 tells us “But He knows the way that I take: when He has tried me, I shall come forth as gold.”  Yet, how we handle these trials can make an eternal difference.  Too often people get stuck in the past and cannot find their way out.  Unhealthy or unhappy experiences have kept them from new and fresh experiences.  Some have attempted projects and failed, so now they won’t try anything new.  Others have been hurt by someone close and now don’t trust anyone.

This doesn’t have to be the case though; we must choose to move beyond the past or present pain to find hope and purpose again.  I want to challenge you to open up and allow your life experiences and the victories you’ve gained to minister to others.  Far too often we get stuck in our own little world because of hurts or disappointments and don’t become the assets for God that we could be.  God can use your past to help others find their future, if you let Him.

I’m the author of: Created to be Creative
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