Friends,
I’ll be honest with you… I’ve been in a mood this week. For one reason or another, your girl was struggling. And yet, it never ceases to amaze me how God still chases us down in spite of our rotten attitudes.
I was honest with God about how I felt, but I wasn’t willing to truly surrender it. I wanted a quick fix — my way, my timeline. Surrender is something God is still teaching me, over and over again.
During Bible study, our pastor said something that has been ringing in my mind ever since:
“Look for the good.”
But I wasn’t. Not even close. These past few days, I was a glass-half-empty girl, and my attitude made everything worse… everything.
The truth is, we can walk through really difficult seasons and situations in life — but if our eyes are fixed only on the bad, how do we draw hope? How do we see what God is doing in the middle of the hardship?
We can’t.
“Look for the good” made me pause and reevaluate a few things. I realized that even in the hard moments, there is good:
Like when we are running to God with everything we have.
When we’re praying over the things that weigh heavy.
When our eyes are fixed on Him asking Him to guide us to that open door… or window.
When we’re asking, “Lord, what do You want to work on in me during this season?” Talk about a powerful and life changing conversation.
As difficult as trials are, I was reminded that God is always working. And if we look for the good, we will see His loving, expert hands at work — cleaning things up, removing what doesn’t belong, pruning what no longer serves our purpose, preparing us for what is to come.
Once I changed my attitude and apologized — to God, and to my poor husband — joy and peace returned. Because they cannot coexist with anger and bitterness.
And after walking through a season filled with anger and bitterness once before, I can tell you with everything in me: I never want to return to that darkness.
I told God, “Take the world, but give me You,” because nothing compares to His peace.
I don’t know what you’re facing today, friend, but here’s what helped me this week:
Looking for the good and not giving up. Not giving up on my trust in God, who He is, and what He can do with willing heart.
Keep the faith, and look for the good friends!
xoxo,
Lesly