Reactions make the Differences

Reactions make the Difference

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?...No, in all theses things we are more than conquerors through him who loved. us. (Rom. 8:35, 37)

A young army officer said: “Weather, in war, is always favorable, if you know how to use it.” That is the point---if you know how to use it. The fact is that everything that comes to you in life is favorable, if you know how to react. (Everything, that is, except for your own personal sin, which is never favorable; its results are always evil. But even then, God can help you use your sins, if forgiven and conquered, to help others in their moral battles.)

Life is determined perhaps more by reactions than by actions. It comes to you on its own; it forces situations upon you without your asking. What counts is your reaction. You can react in self-pity and frustration. Or you can react with confidence and courage. You can make the evil thing make you better. Its origin may have been evil, but by the time you get through with it, the destination is good---you have turned evil into good.

A woman of culture surrendered herself to God, only to have troubles pile in upon her; Her husband became less and less responsive, while her daughter, a brilliant girl, went into a mental hospital. The woman brought them both back through her marvelous spirit. The daughter, restored by her mother's love and faith, said: “Everything has fallen unto you. You get over one thing, and then it's another. But you sit there and smile. You're wonderful.”

In fact, she is, “Nothing hurts me now,” she says in summary. “I have power to come back from anything.” Her reactions have made all kinds of weather serve her.

Edwin Markham, the poet, said that “sorrow stretches our hearts for joy.” It does, and more---it stretches our hearts for new achievements, new usefulness. Sorrow plows the field for God's sowing and our harvest.

I thank you, O Christ, that I can be saved from all self-pity and frustration. I choose to react in Your way to whatever comes. I am unafraid. Amen.

Taken from E. Stanley Jones' The Way / 365 Daily Meditations

"Coming to this place, fires will bring out the sweet aroma of Christ.  We will not come out of them smelling like smoke, but seeing HIM more clearly."

Picture taken by Madison Berkemeyer