Questioning and Keeping the Faith

We've all been witness to what we perceive as the negative consequences of decisions that others have made. It may be that we are directly affected by the consequences of those decisions or it may be that we care about others who are affected by the consequences of those decisions. We may wonder, why does God let this happen if He truly wants what is best for us? Asking that question assumes that what we desire is in line with what God knows is best for us. 

Often, while on this journey of life, I forget that just because I perceive that something is good, and I desire for it to be so, it may not be in the plans that God has for me! When things don't go the way I think they should and I begin to question God, I sometimes wonder if this shows a lack of faith on my part. I know that I should look for what God has for me to learn, how He can help me grow and how He will work good from what I perceive as bad. That is always easier to advise others to do than to actually do myself. 

In my head I know that God has good plans for me. He told me in Jeremiah that His plans are to prosper me and not to harm me. I know this! But when it feels like the world is crumbling around me, when I see children neglected and I try but can't fix it, when it seems that good work is overlooked or ignored, when I try to do good and am thwarted, I have trouble feeling like God is prospering me. Now I know that Satan can really get a foothold in times of questioning if I let him. 

God also promises to give me a hope and a future. That comes right after the promise to prosper me and not to harm me. If I stop there and don't remember that I have the promise of a hope and a future - I have trouble keeping the faith. If I read on, can press on. I can persevere. I know I will have to wade through a lot of muck in this world to get to the end and my eternal home in Heaven. When I find myself wading in the muck, I must remind myself to look toward the hope and future and to look at the mountain top experiences like a friend's healing, a new career doing what God called me to do, new life, the satisfaction that comes from a job well done (even if no one notices) - I must look at these things and remember the promise of a hope and a future to keep the faith. 

Is questioning bad? Probably not; especially if the questioning leads to reading the Word to be reminded of the many promises God has for me. I pray that I will remember this the next time I am wading through some muck. Note to self:  God being your guide, persevere - keep on doing the good that you can do - keep the faith - claim the promises!  

Negativity vs. Contentment - The Choice to be Happy

I sometimes struggle with complaining and negativity. I truly think of myself as an optimist and try to turn negative into positive but sometimes I get stuck in a negative rut. One thing I've learned over time is that my happiness is a choice I must make daily. Sometimes I have to make this choice minute by minute. Perhaps it's not so much happiness but contentment that comes minute by minute and contentment breeds happiness.

Negativity comes from discontent. It breeds more negativity and can lead to becoming and remaining very unhappy. Negativity and complaining gets in the way of my happiness. Why would I choose negativity?

• Associating with negative people:  Let's face it - some people are just negative people. Their complaining and negativity can become like a vacuum, sucking me in and catching me up in it with them.
• Change is hard! Often change brings about negative feelings. Few people enjoy change but living means change. So if we plan to go on living, we will continue to experience change.
• Bad things happen - even to people who are good. When bad things happen, it can be easy to get low and when I get low, I sometimes focus on the negative rather than the positive.

What to do? How can I turn it around and make a different choice? Here are some things that help me:

• Get away from negative people. Now I know that sometimes this isn't possible because we all have to work and live with negative people. Check out other options below.
• Change the subject - talk about something that's not negative.
• Find the positive in the situation at hand.
• Manage the change rather than letting the change manage you.
• When bad things happen, look back - God has always given me a way to get through. I look back to see His hand to be reminded that He is faithful.

There are people in life who choose to see the cloud rather than the silver lining. I want to be the one who looks for the silver lining even when others think there is none. Being positive may seem unrealistic but I am a happier person for it! So you see, happiness is a choice. 

Lessons Learned from Honeysuckle Vines

We've decided we want to move a portion of chain link fence. We've allowed some vines to grow along the fence - bad idea.  As I was trying to remove honeysuckle vines that have intertwined with a chain link fence, I was thinking about these vines. Like the vines, we can adapt, grow, and change. I was struck by how the vines changed direction and wove themselves in and out of the fence in order to grow. Like the vines, we can be stubborn and resist being moved. The vines were strong, resisting my efforts to the point that I didn't finish the job even after an hour of work.

So while I was cutting and pulling at vines, I was thinking that I want to be able to grow and change; to move with the times and to weave my life into the lives of others that God puts in my path. But I also want to be a little bit stubborn and stand up for the things I believe are important, refusing to be moved sometimes. God being my helper, I will know when to grow and change, finding new direction, weaving my life in a new way. I'll also know when it's time to be stubborn and resist change because He wants me to do that.