Listen: Chris Witts presents Morning Devotions
By Chris WittsSunday 2 May 2021Morning Devotions with Chris WittsDevotionsReading Time: 3 minutes
In Part 1, I started talking about making the best of a bad situation. Sometimes we know that people are there that we can’t do much about it. One of the things I think we can do is to accept reality.
Take a picture of your situation, which a friend of mine refers to as ‘camera check’. Don’t put things in the picture that you wish were there—only what is really there.
What is the situation?
A phrase commonly heard these days is, It is what it is. Well, what is it?
Face the facts, though they may at times be brutal. Denial and deception are deadly.
Don’t get stuck in the past. While it is important to grieve and give sorrow a voice, we must never let the grieving process paralyse us.
Recall what you had at one time with heartfelt gratitude—cherish your memories and look to the future with hope and anticipation. As John Claypool used to say, “We do not know enough to give up and live in despair.”
Take an inventory of who and what you still have. While you may have lost some things, there is never a time when you have lost everything.
What are the things that really matter?
The ancient Jews despaired because they lost everything they valued when they were deported: their temple, their city and their homes. It seems all they could focus upon was what they lost, ignoring what they still had. Jeremiah reminded them, however, that all was not lost. They still had those things that really mattered: faith, family, friends, love and hope. Losing what they thought mattered could help them discover what really mattered if they would let it. It can for us, too.
Take responsibility for your life. No knight in shining armour is going to ride in on a white horse and rescue you, just like it did not happen for the disillusioned captives in Babylon. The decisions you make today, large and small, will determine where you will be tomorrow. Make wise decisions.
Don’t sell yourself short. You already possess the strengths you need to make the most of a bad situation. I have a feeling this is not the first time your back has been to the wall or you have had to cope with a ‘new normal’.
- What have you been through?
- What got you through it?
- What did you learn about yourself?
- How can you use these strengths to make this situation better?
Spend some time this week answering these questions. I suspect the answers will be very revealing. Find a support group. There is no reason to travel this road alone. Be a good neighbour at all times in all places by opening your life to others and by reaching out to those around you who are struggling. This will make such a difference in your experience.
Rely upon God. He wants to be a travelling companion as well. He is willing to accompany you on every step of your journey, even in your Babylon, providing the wisdom, insight, strength, courage and guidance.