"If today were your last, would you do what you’re doing? Or would you love more, give more, forgive more? Then do so! Forgive and give as if it were your last opportunity. Love like there’s no tomorrow, and if tomorrow comes, love again." I’ve been angry for awhile now. I’m really struggling—and I mean really struggling. Most of my anger has been directed towards my family, but not all of it. I find myself getting angry at a whole lot of things and a whole lotta people and it just keeps building. When I’m this angry I’m blinded and overly focused on the source(s) of my anger. That’s why the above quote stands out to me today, it stands as a reminder of the person I want to be, the person that God has made me to be…a person of compassion, hope, joy, love and forgiveness. Whatever wrongs I feel that others have done against me, my anger and my frustration hurts me more than others. Forgiveness is healing and right now I know I need a lot of personal healing.
There is a lot to take from the quote above. I want you to take a moment and close your eyes and breathe in deep. Do it again. One more time. Now read the quote above out-loud to yourself twice. What word or grouping of words in that quote stood out to you? Take your time and really reflect on what resonated or shimmered for you in that quote. Now, take those words to God. Ask Him help you learn from those words. Maybe you need to work on forgiveness or simply be reminded that love is the most important thing. Remember, life is fleeting and needs to be lived fully. Most importantly, find time to talk to God and let His message teach you today.
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God recently helped me figure something out. And by recently, I mean earlier today. A few days ago I read a passage in a book that got stuck in my head. I unexpectedly got something revolutionary out of the passage. Just a fiction book I’ve been reading, and it was two characters essentially lecturing one another, but somehow in the midst of their arguments I found a gem of truth, I’ve been angry and resentful lately. Sadly, I must report that I have not handled this well and taken out my issues on other people. My issues have stemmed from my frustrations with my job. What I'm beginning to realize is that I can’t blame my job or my employer. I am the one that made the choice, with God‘s guidance, to take the position. I can’t blame my employer for my financial issues, those are choices I made.
Today God asked me to consider: if I am so devoted to Him, as I claim, then I should have joy in His service, have joy in carrying out His wishes. Perhaps He has valid reasons for putting me in this situation and leaving me here. He always has my best interest at heart, so why do I struggle so in living that out? Do I believe there is a next chapter coming for me? Yes. Do I believe that the struggles will come to an end? Yes. God wants to set me free from all of my struggles, but as long as I am here in the midst of these stressful circumstances, I just need to be focused on Him and the joy He brings into my life. Right now I am where God wants me and I am doing what God wants me to do. When faced with a time of struggle, how do you react? Do you let it change your behavior? If you are struggling with something, how can you take your eyes off of the problem and point your attention and your heart at God? What will it take to stand in the middle of your den of lions and fully trust the Lord to see you through? What songs of praise will you sing while chained to your prison walls? Take your struggles to God and ask Him to help you see past them and to only see Jesus. |
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