The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Your circumstances will turn out better than expected
A few years ago, after a food drive that I coordinated for a local meal center, I took my daughters who were with me to the home of a dog breeder. This woman is a small, hobby-breeder of Chihuahuas.
I had contacted the breeder months before. And she said that she would call me when she had available puppies. So, in late October, one of her Chihuahuas had six puppies; three boys and three girls. Although the puppies were only ten days old, the breeder called and said we could stop by her home and see them.
As my children and I walked into her kitchen, we glanced toward the corner of the room. The puppies were all sleeping in a playpen. At first glimpse, they looked like tiny hamsters. Lined up all in a row, their minute eyes were not even open yet.
Quite taken with the puppies, my youngest daughter chose a sweet, sable-colored girl puppy. But there was no way to tell what her temperament would be; what she’d look like; or if she’d get along with our other animals. However, by faith, we chose her, and I gave the breeder a deposit.
Seven weeks later, we went back to the breeder’s home. With excitement, we brought the puppy home and named her Sadie. We had no idea how it would turn out. Yet, the result was better than expected.
Maybe today you are scared, uncertain, and you wonder if your situation will ever get better. But like our experience with
Sadie, your circumstances will turn out better than expected.
The challenge you are facing will not break you. It will make you! Hence, if one dream didn’t work out, dream another. If you got knocked down, get back up. Keep on, keeping on. There is something great in store for you.
So, don’t allow fears or insecurities to keep you from your best. Shake off self-condemnation, and that “can’t-do” mentality. Do not focus on so-called weaknesses or past mistakes. Be positive toward yourself. Let past blunders go and start feeling good about who you are and where you are going. We all have areas to improve, but that shouldn’t stop us from liking who we are today. Accentuate the positive. Recall the hundreds of outstanding qualities you have and each trait you may have to work on a bit. Are you genuinely kind toward others? Are you encouraging and helpful? Are you a loyal friend? You have so much right with you. Go through this day feeling good about you!
Spread good cheer. Be around those who look on the bright side. Dwell on pleasant things, grand accomplishments and joyful expectations. Challenge yourself to shed unhealthy habits. Break away from abusive situations. See yourself victorious, conquering difficulties, full of hope. Be resilient, work hard and stay motivated. There is no limit to what you can achieve.
I read in the Bible how four lepers were sitting at the entrance of the gate of Samaria. Because of their incurable disease, the Bible tells us that they were outcasts from society.
The lepers had every reason to be negative and bitter. They were isolated, considered impure and were rejected, neglected, and probably, nobody cared what would become of them.
The story continues; and as a result of the Syrian invasion, there was a severe famine in Israel. And these lepers, along with the others in the city, were starving.
It was a desperate situation. Circumstances were extremely difficult. And the lepers didn’t have much of a reason to be hopeful. But unlike the rest of Samaria, these four lepers decided to do something rather than sit at the gate and starve. They elected not to lag around in self-pity and complain about the hunger that was overtaking them. Despite all that was against them, they didn’t give up on their life.
So, the lepers said one to another, “Why sit we here until we die?” They reasoned together and evaluated the situation. With courage, they looked beyond their circumstance and made a positive decision. ‘Maybe, there was the remote chance that the Syrians would give them food,’ they thought.
The lepers resolved to go to the camp of the Syrian army, “If they spare us, we shall live; and if they kill us, we shall die.” (2 Kings 7:4). Next, the four lepers acted on their decision. They arose at twilight and began walking towards the camp of Syria.
The lepers did what they could do. Then, God stepped in… and did the rest.
“For the Lord had caused the army of the Arameans to hear a sound of chariots and a sound of horses, even the sound of a great army…” (2 Kings 7:6). It sounded like a great army was coming towards the army camp. In fear, the Army ran off, “and left their tents and their horses and their donkeys, even the camp just as it was, and fled for their life…” (2 Kings 7:7).
And that ended the famine in Israel.
So let peace, hope and joy rise up in your heart. God is good, and He is with you. It doesn’t matter who you are or where you have been. There is a new beginning waiting for you. God can take an insignificant person and turn him or her into someone of great value. He can take the meek and transform them into the memorable. And God can take the lowly and give them the desires of their hearts.
Abraham Lincoln once wrote, “We must work earnestly in the best light God gives us trusting that so working will lead to the great ends He ordains.”
God loves you, believes in you and has wonderful plans for your life.
Your circumstances will turn out better than expected.
And the best is yet to come.