The Choice

“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy- think about such things.” Philippians 4:8 (NIV)

 

It was not a good situation. I bet you’ve been there. You had a plan. You had a vision for the future. Then something happened. Sometimes multiple somethings happened.

You plan is suddenly obsolete. Not applicable. So not happening.

Today doesn’t look like you imagined.

You have a choice.

How to respond?

The feelings of loss, disappointment, maybe even anger are oh, so real. And those feelings need acknowledgement.

But, after all the kicking and screaming is out. The words of disbelief, disappointment, and despair are spent, is God still on His throne?

Did these events surprise Him?

Can He possibly weave even this, into an intricate design in His beautiful plan for your life?

You bet He can. And He does, all the time. We just need to be patient and trust until we see it.

That’s really hard.

Today is a choice. If today is not where we want it to be, doesn’t look like we imagined or hoped, we get to choose something. We get to choose our reaction to it. Our attitude towards it.

Do I choose to let my disappointment stew into an anger where it blinds me to the blessings of today? Or through my tears of grieving a loss of my expectations, do I honestly hold out my hands and say, “Your will be done. I trust You.”

Philippians 4:8 instructs us on how to think. How we should focus on the positive. Focus on the truth. True, this situation may not be something I authored, BUT.

But, I KNOW: God loves me. God is here, He promises to never leave me nor forsake me. He also promises to somehow, some way, weave it all together for my good.

Reminding myself of those truths won’t change this situation or this disappointment. But, allowing God’s word to soak into my soul will make the situation more palatable.

And that truth breeds hope. Hope that THIS is exactly where I am to be. Hope that trusts God knows exactly what He’s doing and has the path all mapped out, even when I can’t see it.

Yes, I choose to fix my eyes on Him and not my looming disappointment. Because HE is God. And, I trust Him.

 

Heavenly Father,

Thank You for Your word, my instructional book for how to do life. Thank You that You do indeed have control over everything, and that I need to remind myself of that fact. When I might be surprised by life’s events, You never are. And, You are always right there, holding me in Your protective arms. Thank You for Your constant care and Your great love for me, In Jesus’ name, Amen.