Your miracle will happen sooner than expected!
A while ago, I read a book by bestselling author and counselor H. Norman Wright. A longtime fisherman, he shared many life lessons and biblical applications that he had experienced while fishing in his devotional titled: A Perfect Catch Lessons for Life from a Bass Fisherman.
Paraphrasing one of the stories he told was about three men who were carrying two backpacks each, as they were on a fishing trip. One backpack was on their front. And the other backpack was held on their backs.
The sun reflected brightly off the water, as a person walking by curiously questioned the three men. “Why are you carrying two backpacks each?” the passerby asked. “What is in them?” he questioned.
Glancing pensively at the passerby, the first man answered, “I carry the good things that have happened to me on my back.” Then, his expression dramatically changed. “But the front backpack contains all my negative experiences,” he said, as his eyes began to well up with tears.
Over the next few minutes, the first man explained to the passerby how he would stop frequently and open the front backpack. He would look at it, and then he would relive all those bad experiences; the unfair situations, the negative words others had spoken over him, the failures and disappointments of the past.
The passerby shrugged his shoulders, not knowing what to say. Moreover, because the first man stopped so often to think about all the adverse things that had transpired and constantly focused on the negative, he felt badly about himself. He didn’t have much joy, nor did he make progress in his daily life.
Without delay, the second man walked over to the passerby, chimed in and gave the opposite response. “I carry in the front backpack all good things,” he stated. Moments passed, and then the second man looked down with a trace of sadness in his eyes, uttering, “Yet, the pack on my back contains all of my guilt, fears, the regrets and mistakes, and unfortunately, I never put the backpack down. It’s heavy. It is a burden. And day by day, I just continue to carry it.”
The third man was listening intently to the conversations. He took a deep breath and described to the passerby, “The backpack that I carry on the front has within it all of my blessings. It contains positive thoughts and words. It has my good qualities, my achievements and successes. And the kind deeds that others have done for me. Also, it holds my hopes and dreams for the future.”
The passerby’s face lit up. “So, what’s in the back backpack?” the passerby asked.
Smiling with a contagious grin, the third man said, “There is nothing in the backpack I carry on my back.” Interested, the passerby inquired, “Why is that backpack empty?
Confidently and positively beaming, the third man leaned toward the passerby as if he were telling him a secret. Quietly, he replied, “I cut a hole in the bottom of the backpack. That way, all of the negativity is released. I let it all go. So, there’s nothing to hold me back from progressing on in life, and there is no extra weight to carry.”
As you journey through life, what are you carrying in your backpack? On what are you really focusing your attention?
Perhaps, you might think that you’ve made too many mistakes, had too many setbacks, or were too badly hurt in the past to succeed in the future. Maybe, you can’t seem to get over something that happened long ago. Or, feeling waves of anxiety, your current circumstance can be overwhelming you.
Yet, God created you to be an overcomer. “You are more than a conqueror through Him who loves you.” (Romans 8:37). And if…”God is for you, who can be against you?” (Romans 8:31).
So similar to the third man, release the weight of the worry and burdens you have been carrying. Leave the sack of regrets behind. And unload the bag of what didn’t work out. Rather, all through the day, continually focus on all of your blessings and thank God for the great things He is going to bring into your future. Always ponder upon all the positive aspects of your life. And turn the unfair matters over to God. He is the restorer of broken dreams, and He will graciously right the wrongs and bless you in new and extraordinary ways.
For the holiday season, I ordered a few gifts on-line. One of the presents I ordered for my daughter was expected to be delivered in a week. But three days later, I saw the package outside my front door. The delivery came sooner than expected. That is what is going to happen to you. Your miracle will happen sooner than expected! The more you turn your heart and mind in a positive direction and on the good things for which you aspire, the right opportunities, people and circumstances will be produced and unfold before you.
So, keep the faith. Give. Serve. Pray. And look ahead to the many miracles that await. Today is a new day. And on God’s time schedule, He will put His powers forward, and usher you to the greatest joys and opportunities of your life.
Be at peace, God is faithful and, “He who began a good work in you will complete it.” (Philippians 1:6). Therefore, never, ever give up on yourself or on the wonderful future that God has for you. God is directing your steps. Greater things are yet to be done. And, soon, you will see the goodness of God and you’ll be amazed at what is in store for you!