Make A Choice

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“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. ”  - James 1:2-3.
We will all face adversity in life.  There is no way to avoid it.  It’s how you react to the adversity that matters.  Others around you are going to learn from your reactions whether you want them to or not, and it is at these times you need to make a choice.

I recently read this story.  As was the father’s habit, he got up early each Saturday to make breakfast for the family.  This particular Saturday he found his daughter sitting at the kitchen table in a state of frustration and anger.  The daughter had come home from college the night before ready to give up.  Her professors aren’t supportive, the material is difficult and she’s just not blending in like she did in high school.  He decided to have her help him with breakfast.  “Honey, would you put 3 different pots on the stove and boil some water please.”  She lifted her head and began to help out.  As the water began to boil in each pot, he handed her the different items.  In one pot she put some whole potatoes, in the second she put eggs and in the third he had her pour in some coffee beans.  Then they sat at the table and he helped her try to get a better understanding of the material she was struggling with.

The air was beginning to smell of the rich aroma of coffee as the sun was peaking over the horizon out the back window.  He grabbed a few plates and a few cups and went back to the stove.  She came with him and began helping take the potatoes out of the water and placing them on the plates.  Next she removed the eggs and likewise place them on the plates.  He handed her a ladle and she scooped out a cup of coffee for her and one for him.  As they brought the food back to the table, the father looked at her and said, “Tell me honey, what did you notice that was similar about our breakfast preparation this morning?”  She looked at him somewhat confused.  “Everything we made was made the same way – with boiling water.  But, each reacted very differently.”  “So.”, is all she could muster.  He continued, “The potatoes went in hard and solid, but now are soft and weak”, as he pressed down and demonstrated with his fork in the potato.  “The eggs went into the water, delicate and fragile, but now are hard and solid”, he peeled back the shell.  “Both of these allowed the water to change their characteristics.  Now, what happened to the coffee beans?”, he asked.  Looking at her cup of coffee, inhaling the deep aroma and closing her eyes with a warm sigh; “They’re still boiling in the pot.”  He nodded, “Right, the coffee beans changed the environment around them, rather than being changed by the environment.”

When others see you deal with adversity are they seeing you being controlled by the circumstances or are they seeing you change the circumstances for the better.  God gives each of us the strength to take on the challenges each day, when we are walking with Him.  He has proven all throughout history to rise up leaders against adversity.  When we trust in His word and follow His path we are not promised an easy life, but we are promised to overcome.  What problems are you faced with today that you haven’t given to the Lord?  Why don’t you take the moment right now to pause, close your eyes and hand this situation over?  The next step is to move on and let God use you to demonstrate His power and ever present help in times of need.  Others will observe your confidence, strength and joy even in your struggles.  This my friend is when you can stand and claim you are living for God.

© Sondove Enterprises, 2013
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