So, summer just started and we have
already caught a glimpse of the torturous heat it is bringing! I thought we
could all use some words of encouragement. I wrote this as a response to an
email from a friend a while back. (For those of you involved, don't worry, I
edited out certain details and names)
Question(
reworded): Do you ever feel like life is passing you by? Like everyone else is
living while you are at a standstill?
It was funny that
she would ask a question like that, because I was struggling with that very
thing and I shared what God was trying to teach me at the time. Here was my
response:
In times like
this it's very hard to press on, I'm still working on it myself. My pastor has
preached on Philippians 4, in verses 11-13 it says: "I am not saying this
because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the
circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have
plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation,
whether well fed or in want. I can do all things through Christ who gives me
strength." In the KJV, verse 11 says: "in whatsoever state I am,
therewith to be content." I think that our problem is that we're always
comparing ourselves with others. We look with longing at what we want and
wonder how others can have it when we don't. But even the people who seem to
have perfect lives have their own struggles, some are just less visible than
others. Everyone has moments when they desire a better life, but the difference
is that those who are most fulfilled in life are the ones who take everything
to God. Romans 12:12 says: "Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction,
faithful in prayer." This may not be the case for you, but I know that my
problem is a problem with joy. I allow depression and negative thoughts to take
me down. It gives me this self-pitying, sour attitude and people notice. I have
been told multiple times to "smile, life's not that bad." I may not
be able to control my circumstances, but I can control my attitude. It's much
better to remember that God is always in control, in the good times and the
bad, and He knows what you're going through. He uses the tough times to bring
you closer to Him. So look at the positive things even if they seem few and far
between.
I've noticed that the subject of
encouragement and positive thinking seems to keep coming back to me. I guess I
still have a lot to learn and I'm glad to be able to share these things that
God is working on in my life. I hope it's not too repetitive :) If you would
like more on this subject, look back at these posts:
