Whether things in our present circumstances are trials and troubles or training for triumph, is all a matter of perspective and attitude. What we perceive as a trial is often God's way of training us; what we perceive as troubles is sometimes God's way to triumph (victory). But I want to say at the very start of this brief reflection that not all bad things in life are part of God's will for us. It's a truism that 'bad things happen to good people,' or just simply, 'bad things happen.' We live in an imperfect world, a fallen world if you will, a world in which injustice so often prevails over justice, in which hate too often triumphs over love, and in which human ideas unfortunately triumph over divine truth. Humans are naturally inclined to do what is wrong, that which is ungodly and harmful to others; humans are naturally inclinde to stick to that which distracts us from God and divine truth. However, most of us still have a conscience - but do we follow it?
We win or lose by the way we choose.
--Jonathan David
That's a cool statement, and it's true. Whether we win or lose in difficulties is a matter of choice, which in turn is a matter of attitude. In fact, the right attitude will determine whether we will 'come out on the other side' victoriously or defeated. But, yes, it's tough! As one man said, 'Sometimes the only light in the tunnel is that of the approaching train.'
A similar statement to that above is by motivational speaker Zig Ziglar. Consider this:
It's not what happens to you that matters. It's how you respond to what happens to you that makes a difference.
--Zig Ziglar
Our
response is all-important! It's easy - and emotions will dictate it thus - to become discouraged, hurt and even bitter. But will it solve the problem or make it worse? Obviously, it will make it worse as we lose the power to fight the bad things suffered or we retaliate and become as our enemies. That's why a very wise Jewish rabbi once said we must love our enemies and do good to those who curse us (Jesus in Matthew's Gospel). Martin Luther King Jr understood that dimension: unless our
response is different we will become like them - and we can't!
To quote Jonathan David again:
You either become bitter or better.
Our response to what happens to us is the key. Jesus chose to forgive those who beat, humiliated and crucified Him. Many great figures in history were able to overcome all sorts of bad circumstances and injustice in order to achieve a greater good. But they all had one thing in common: they were not pushed down by their bad circumstances of experiences, but used them to rise and become better - not bitter!
Why not reflect on things in your life and how you react? Forgiveness is the path to freedom!
