I dropped off my daughter at the airport to go on our church mission trip to Uganda, Africa. And it did not go as planned. But we made the best out of what happened. You too, can learn from our experience and make the best out of unforeseen circumstances.
Before we even left our driveway, we noticed something wasn't quite right with the car's windshield. Here in Pittsburgh, it's pretty cold in the morning right now and there was definitely a frost, and unbeknownst to me, my defroster had stopped working.
We didn't make it very far as we realized it wasn't clearing further as anticipated and pulled over just a straight away from home to have my husband come and switch cars with us so I can get her to the airport on time. The first step was recognizing our problem and deciding how to fix it. And taking action as necessary. The next time something like this happens to you, think about what you can do to solve the problem, and take the necessary steps to do it.
We got on our way with a car with a defroster that worked, but we ended up in traffic that was backed up all the way down the hill to the road going toward the airport. Again, an unforeseen circumstance that we could not control. But we knew God was in control.
Were we having fun yet?
Honestly, yes and no. We got to choose our response. You too, can choose your response when something happens that's out of your control. We used the time to speak positive thoughts and to pray. I told her to save time on the other side of the drop off, I would just say my goodbyes to her now so that she could just be booted out of the car when we got to the departure lane at Pittsburgh International Airport.
How will you choose to change your mindset next time something similar to this happens?
What actions will you take to not become upset in the moment?
Enjoy the moment you're in and pray for the situation around you.
It's not always easy when the emotions are bubbling inside, but we always have a choice to make as to where we focus and how we will respond when unavoidable and irritating things happen in life that we didn't plan for and didn't want.
We also have a choice as to how we respond with others when such things happen.
To hear more on this topic, click here to listen to this podcast: When You Feel Angry for being Mistreated - Boundaries and Grace
This morning, I responded to a heartfelt email from a woman with a beautiful spirit but a broken heart. She’s a member of the Mental Health for Christian Women Membership Community, where she has access to regular personal email coaching from me. Her message was filled with questions about the nature of God in a world that often seems full of pain and suffering.
It became clear that the insights I shared with her might also resonate with you. While I won’t delve into the specifics of her situation, many of us grapple with understanding God’s role when faced with the harsh realities of life.
Here’s a summary of what I shared with her:
Understanding God Through the Lens of His Goodness
James 1:17 tells us, “Every good and perfect gift comes from God the Father.” When we question God’s nature and His protection amid suffering, it helps to remember that the best reflection of who He is can often be found within ourselves.
Consider the qualities in you that seek to protect, care, and love. The parts of you that hope for purity and strive to overcome pain—these are echoes of God’s nature. He is not the source of pain, destruction, or perversion. Instead, He is the one who comforts us and overcomes evil, both in this life and in Heaven.
God is constant—“the same yesterday, today, and forever” (Hebrews 13:8). The evil we see in the world is not of Him, which is why it feels so foreign and distressing to us. God has made a way for us, defeating the enemy and ensuring that death has lost its sting (1 Corinthians 15:55-57).
In struggles, remember that “crying may last for a night, but joy comes in the morning” (Psalm 30:5). God walks with us through our battles, providing comfort, direction, strength, and hope that will never be cut off. He is not passive; He is the peace that surpasses understanding and the power over evil (Phillipians 4:7).
You can see God’s heart in your own desire to protect innocence and fight for good. The doubts, guilt, shame, fear, and pain are not from Him. Rather, He is actively pushing back the darkness that seeks to overtake His children.
I hope this message brings you comfort and perspective, just as I hoped it would for my virtual coaching friend.
If you would like to join the membership community, and get personal coaching like this in your email box to help you with your questions and goals, you can learn more, and sign-up : Clck Here
Takeaways:
- Reflect God’s Nature: When you struggle to understand God, look at the good and caring qualities within yourself as reflections of His nature.
- Embrace God’s Goodness: Remember that every good thing comes from God. He is the source of all that is pure and loving.
- Separate Evil from God: Understand that pain, destruction, and perversion are not from God. He is here to free us from these effects.
- Find Comfort in His Constancy: God remains the same throughout time. His promises and His nature are steadfast.
- Hold onto Hope: Even in difficult times, trust that joy will come and that God is with you during your trials.
- Recognize His Work in You: Your desire to protect and fight for good is a sign of God working through you.
- Push Back Darkness: Know that God is actively involved in combating the darkness in your life and in the world.
If you missed this week's podcast on a related topic, “Overcoming Religious Abuse and Cult Trauma - An Interview with Guest Liza Lovett, Part 1 of 2,” you can listen to it here.
In His Love,
Michelle
Michelle
