It’s your choice what you think about or dwell on. If there is one lesson that I’ve learned over the years, it’s that.
It’s real easy to focus on the negative and on times when someone hurt you. It’s easy to see all the injustice in your life and in the world.
However, it is our choice what we dwell on. And, it’s an important choice. It can potentially affect your whole life.
Let me give you an example.
Years ago, someone close to me made some assumptions about me that weren’t accurate and it really hurt me to the point that I never thought of that person the same since. Whenever, I thought about what this person said, I would feel like a failure even though I did nothing wrong. I would get depressed and let that one moment steal my joy.
Don’t Let it Steal Your Joy
We only have one life to live in this world. Don’t let those bad moments, what other people say, or all the hurt and pain get in the way of the joy we can choose to experience everyday. Time is precious.
How do you want to live? Do you want to choose joy and be free from all that pain? Or, do you want to be constantly weighed down with all the injustice, hurt and pain that you’ve been through?
I’m not saying that many of you haven’t been through some pretty traumatic things. I have too. But, if we choose to dwell on them, we will become pretty miserable people.
God says in Matthew:
“Come to me, all you who labor and are heavily burdened and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me. For I am meek and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.”
Matthew 11:28-30MEV
Trust God With Your Burdens
Trust God to take care of all the injustice, the wrongs you experienced, the hurt and pain and all the other bad stuff. You can trust Him with all those things and people you worry about. He is a good God and His promises are true.
There are so many things we worry about and put on our shoulders. Things that we can’t do anything about. All that worry does is make you miserable and rob you of joy in the moment.
I think one of the hardest tests of our faith is when it seems like everything is going wrong, when we’ve been hurt or in circumstances that seem to be out of control.
The joy mentioned in the Bible isn’t dependent dependent on circumstances. It is more than just feeling happy. In its fuller, spiritual meaning it is “expressing God’s goodness” and means much more. It deep-rooted in the goodness of God.
It says in Nehemiah:
What You Dwell On Can Affect Your Opportunities
One other thing to think about is that those things that you dwell on can affect the opportunities that come your way. Think about it like this.
If you are focused on the pain and, perhaps, blaming the offender or God, then how are you going to see the opportunities that God wants to send your way. Your state of mind affects every choice you make every day.
If you give up when faced with adversity or obstacles, then how will you see what’s over the next mountain? That next step might be the one to the fulfillment of all your dreams.
However, if you give up you’ll never get there.
God Has a Purpose in Everything
The life of faith is almost never a straight line. There are hills and valleys, pain and suffering, inexpressible joy and miracles from God.
We don’t always understand all that goes on in our lives or in this world. Many things are so very wrong. But, it all passes through God’s hands first.
He has a purpose for everything and will use all that we’ve been through for good as it says in Romans:
“We know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”
Romans 8:28 MEV
Life is a journey and every obstacle that we face is an opportunity to show ourselves faithful to God and to trust Him for He is trustworthy.
Conclusion
So, let God be your strength. Let Him be your source of joy no matter what your burdens may be. Lay them at his feet. Trust Him with your future and all your hopes and dreams.
It’s your choice what you choose to dwell on and those choices can affect so much more than you can ever think or imagine
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