Ever had one of those days?
One of those days when no matter where you turn there is nothing but a blank wall ... blank, that is, except for the cranium-sized circle drawn in bright red with these words scribbled beneath: "Beat Head Here."
Days when no matter what you say or do, you find that you have been excruciatingly misinterpreted, misunderstood, and misapprehended. You have consistently miscalculated, misspoken, and misstepped. Your energies have been so misappropriated, if you're not careful you'll misspell your own name.
You begin to feel as though you've stumbled upon the smooth hide of an enigma stuffed with a clever riddle wrapped tightly in a membrane of inscrutability and hermetically sealed inside a conundrum labeled in 100-point Helvetica: "MYSTERIES OF THE UNIVERSE" ... and it's ticking, and you've got four point two seconds to crack the code.
Or else.
But crack it you do. Because you've had good teachers and along the way you've learned that no matter how complicated things get, some things are pretty simple.
So you take a deep breath and quickly review a few bare-bones realities, to wit:
It is okay to say "NO" and mean "NO" when "NO" is the only answer that makes any sense. It's fine to say it several times if you have to.
Just because someone says something about you does not make it true. You're not obligated to accept someone else's "take" on either your actions or your motives.
You can't expect others to see it your way every time. Sometimes you have to compromise, but not to the point that you sin against God.
If you have asked someone to forgive you and they won't, there's nothing else you can do. Forget about it and move on.
You will never regret being as honest with yourself as it is possible to be. You might as well do so anyway, because God knows everything you think you're hiding.
Life is shorter and more precious than at first imagined. So, work hard to make your dreams come true and don't let anyone rain on your parade.
If someone rains on your parade anyway, put up your umbrella and keep marching.
Sing louder.
And on a more spiritual plane, these thoughts:
There are eternal truths that we disregard at our peril. There is one God, creator of the universe and mankind. He is sovereign and we are His servants. Although there are other authorities in our lives, ultimately it is God to whom we are accountable.
Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen. (Revelation 1:7)
Our personal philosophies and viewpoints are meaningless except to the extent they align with God's Word, the Bible.
For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven. (Psalm 119:89)
The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever. (Isaiah 40:8)
That which God has identified in His Word as wrong is still wrong, no matter what the world system thinks, says, or does. Moreover, our individual actions have consequences.
Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. (Galatians 6:7)
Our life is but a vapor and eternity is ... well, eternity. The soul will live forever, but the span of life is short.
Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that. (James 4:14-15)
There is but one way to Heaven: faith in Jesus Christ, who died to take away the sins of the world.
Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. (Hebrews 7:25)
No matter how much we sin or stray, no matter how weak our faith, God loves us and stands ready to forgive if we but ask. He is as merciful as He is faithful.
If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself. (2 Timothy 2:13)
Thy faithfulness is unto all generations: thou hast established the earth, and it abideth. (Psalm 119:90)
God can and will restore joy and fruitfulness to those who trust Him, even when all seems lost. It is never too late to believe God for a miracle.
And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpiller, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you. (Joel 2:25)
It will be worth it all when we see Jesus. If we have trusted in Him completely, that is.
Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. (1 John 3:2)
See? Life's not such a mystery after all.
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All Scripture quoted and referenced in this article is from the King James Version.
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Comments
This is a great encouragement! Thanks for writing.
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