Collecting the Pieces

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.Then you will call on me and pray to me, and I will listen to you. you will seek me and find me when you seek me with your heart.”

Jeremiah 29:11-13

She walked in the dark unsure of where to place her feet. She walked alone. The cold bit into her flesh and the icy cold sliced into her fragile skin. As she swayed from left to right, she recognised this could be the end. Just ahead she knew she would find the answer. She could neither see nor hear. She was lost. A million and one hands,voices and bodies pushed against her advance and threatened to pull her under. She stumbled, buckling under the pressure that she could not see and did not understand. Somehow she had just enough strength to drag herself along. Would she make it? Suddenly she saw a blinding light; she heard the horns just as it became too late. Was it too late?

What if we woke up everyday expecting the best and not the worst? Many persons are too afraid to think this way, because for them life has shown them that expecting the best all the time is a fantasy. And whether we like it or not, we live in the real world, with real problems. However, do we have to focus so heavily on all the things that could or have gone wrong? How have we contributed to our hopeless state? Many of us are unwilling to admit that we are complicit in our own situation. When we choose to focus on our problems and wallow in them we are not acknowledging that even in our difficulties God has a plan for us. We see opportunities to get out of bad situations and we are too afraid to take them, because everything else has failed so far. So we say, “why bother”. Like the girl above we do not get off the road we are on until we have a sense of direction. Instead we continue without a purpose and expect to get results.

The Small Pieces Matter

There will always be situations that threaten our happiness but we do not have to allow them to reek havoc in our lives. When you see the overcast skies, do you complain about the possible negative conditions it will bring or do you express gratitude at the experiences you will have because of the rain. Far too often we take the little things for granted. But think about the fact that those small, seemingly insignificant things end up creating the bigger picture. We don’t have to continue our aimlessly sojourn, but can find some measure of direction and insight in the word of God. What you need to do sometimes is to stop and think about what you want to seek out in your quest to live your purpose. Will you continue to walk down a dark road with a fear filled outcome or in confidence at the little blessings waiting around you to be collected and used for your good?