Life is constantly moving from one set of circumstances to another. In my lifetime, I have found myself in countless different circumstances. Some were positive and uplifting while others were negative and depressing. Some were very pleasant and others were unpleasant. Some circumstances were common and others were unique. The one thing they all have in common, including my current circumstance, is that they are not permanent – they will change for better or for worse.
Many of the circumstances we face are of our own making. Poor decisions and physical clumsiness are just two examples of actions that can lead to dire circumstances. Hard work to achieve goals can lead to very good circumstances. But sometimes, in spite of our best efforts, we find ourselves in circumstances caused by the actions of others, by a pandemic or by a natural disaster and those are all out of our control.
The cause of our circumstance is not nearly as important as our reaction to it. A common adage from my childhood was, “Don’t cry over spilt milk.” That saying has lost some of its meaning for me. However, if you don’t want to see an old man cry, don’t let me spill the coffee; especially before I’ve had my first cup in the morning. We need to be aware of our circumstances without letting them control our emotions or our minds.
I think the story of Peter walking on the water toward Jesus in the storm is a perfect example. Peter had to be aware of the wind, rain and waves yet he walked on the water by focusing on Jesus. It was when he began to look around and concentrate on his circumstance that he began to sink. As Christians, we can overcome our circumstances by concentrating on God, His word and His Holy Spirit within us. If our circumstance begins to get the better of us, we can (like Peter) cry out to our Lord and He will lift us out of our circumstance to safety. (Matthew 14:25-33)
I never thought I would ever quote Martha Washington and the Apostle Paul in the same paragraph, but they both had interesting things to say about this subject. Martha (our very first First Lady) once wrote, “I’ve learned from experience that the greater part of our happiness or misery depends on our dispositions and not on our circumstances.” Paul wrote, “Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.” (Philippians 4:11-13)
Whatever your current circumstance, keep your focus on God; give Him praise for the good times and depend on Him to lead you through the bad times. Our circumstances will continue to change until we enter the Kingdom of Heaven Jesus spoke of so often. It is then that our circumstance will remain glorious for eternity.