Easy Like Sunday Morning...

There has been a recent wave of people proclaiming that they are "living their best life" and I am so thrilled when I see people posting pictures of themselves taking vacations, exploring the world, embarking on entrepreneurial pursuits, beating obstacles, achieving goals, and kicking down barriers. Yet in the midst of all of this, I wonder why it's more common for us to post the great days, the great moments and the great snapshots of our life without also boasting in the not-so-good ones also? What causes us to take several selfies and still not end up posting even one of them because they aren't as perfect as we would have liked. Or what causes us to filter the perfect moment, yet wish that the bad ones would instantly vanish when they occur to us. What happens when things aren't "easy like Sunday morning?" Have you ever became angry at God? Doubted him? Gotten frustrated at the way things seemed to be unfolding in your life? Or even wondered why it seemed as though you were a passenger on the "struggle bus" with no idea of when you'd be able to "unboard" this rocky ride? You're in good company!

It is without hesitation that I am 100% confident that all of us have or will face trouble. If you've yet to experience any sort of trouble or trial, do as my great-granny would say and keep on living. The blessing in trouble is that though it is inevitable, its effects are unimaginable. In John 16:33, Jesus says, "These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world." This verse is preceded by Jesus giving his disciples assurance that they are not alone because he has gifted us with the Holy Spirit (John 16:5-15). Next, he foretells his death and the resurrection (John 16:16-22), followed by a discussion on the power of asking all things in his name in prayer. It is so encouraging and humbling to me that Jesus took the time to encourage us as his disciples because he KNEW that we would face trials and tribulations, yet he gave us the victory to truly overcome everything that would come our way.

It is also so powerful that he spoke not as someone who had not experienced every emotion that we feel, yet Hebrews 4:15 tells us, "For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin." He's been where we are and he knows how we feel, and yet he sympathizes with us. The word sympathize means to show compassion, concern, and interest for a person and/or their circumstance. Therefore, he's speaking from a place of knowing and understanding, and responding with compassion. The Lord has shown us several times in his Word that he designed us to live in this world with dominion, with power and understanding that he has not purposed for us to fail. Luke 10:19 says, "Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing will injure you." Therefore, when we face trials, when we face storms and when our lives aren't easy like Sunday morning, there is one thing that we can find assurance in and that is the hope of Jesus Christ.

It is without saying that life is sometimes hard and can even seem unbearable at times. Yet, I am grateful for the present help and present hope of Jesus Christ because he never forsakes us and never leaves us without the proper equipment and weapons to accomplish the task and win the war.

In the last few months, my family and I have seen God bring forth promotions on jobs, layoffs from jobs that lead to entrepreneurial pursuits, deaths of family members and births of new ones, but above all, I have joined the sentiments of Paul in Philippians 4:11-13, and learned contentment. Paul says, "Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me." In the past, at the end of my day I had become accustomed to trying to decide if it was a "good" or "bad" day. Now, my perspective has changed. When we understand that God intends to work every situation for our GOOD, no matter what it looks like, every day is GOOD. The car issue, the health issue, financial issue, the job issue, the marriage issue, the issue with the kids, whatever the issue is...is all working together for your good and for your betterment.

I can't promise you what my tomorrow or your tomorrow holds, but I can assure you that I know WHO holds it and he doesn't design any situation without the intent of it working for your good.