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OK ... so here is my verse for December first:
All the days of the oppressed are wretched, but the cheerful heart has a continual feast.
Proverbs 15:15 NIV
This verse means a great deal to me, although I have just read it for the first time today. You see, I have a reputation. I have the reputation for being happy and always finding the bright side of things. I have even been called Pollyanna. I've seen the movie. I liked Pollyanna. I like what she represented. Turns out, in today's world it is not actually a compliment at times to be called Pollyanna. Turns out that people don't always want to hear the bright side of things ... it makes it hard to wallow in the quagmire. Nevertheless, I have hung in there ... remained positive ... embraced smiling ... chose cheerfulness. I am at peace when I choose to be this way. It is one of the lessons that has carried forward from my battle with cancer. God showed me that there was always a bright side ... even in the face of death. And now in life ... it is something that defines who I am.
Now, before you start writing me and reminding me of times that I was less than cheerful ... days when I was glum ... days when I was negative ... I will admit that there have been moments, hours, and even days when this has been true of me. During these times life has felt wretched. I have felt wretched. In fact, wretchedness seems to quickly consume my heart like a flame set loose on an Arizona sun-baked field of tumbleweeds. Just as Scripture dictates.
Perhaps, that is why I am far more comfortable being like "Pollyanna." For the flip side of that Scripture is: "the cheerful heart has a continual feast." It does not say anything about our circumstances. You see our circumstances can be miserable, but our hearts be cheerful. This is done only through abiding in the Holy Spirit and letting Him fill you with the kind of joy that is not bound to the circumstances of this world. We can have a continual feast of joy. We just have to choose to take God's road. We have to choose between grumbling and grousing and thankfulness and gratitude ... misery and joy. If we choose the latter, we are better equipped to serve and bring glory to God and we can experience His joy.
So, how are your circumstances? Good? Bad? Wretched? This world seems to be falling apart at the seams. But, there are choices to be made. How is your heart? Are you hungry? Offer up praise to God for all the He has done and is doing in your life! Choose thankfulness and gratitude! Join the continual feast ... There is plenty to go around!
May your heart see beyond your circumstances ...
Lisa
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4 comments:
Beautiful post...
I also have always loved the movie Pollyanna. :)
Blessings,
Michelle
Such a timely note for me as my circumstances are less than desirable right now, but my heart can be cheerful and it is my choice. Hope you are well:)
Peace and joy are not the escape or resolution of our circumstances to our good. It's finding HIM in the heat of the battle. And we will always have the battle with our flesh, even though He has cured our sin problem. My circumstances right now are horrifying but for me it doesn't boil down to just making the right choices--living like a Pollyana. We watched that movie incessantly when my kids were little. I strove hard to choose right in midst of losing 6 babies, with a background of sexual abuse and attempted murder. I became a cross between Pollyanna and Shirley Temple. No more! I have found unshakable Peace and unbelievable Joy in a good and beautiful God not in solving my problems or even understanding what has happened to me. I'm not telling you anything you don't know---just saying that we both have taken a look at being Pollyanna---the payoff for being Pollyanna for me was that I didn't have to enter my suffering. Thank you for taking the time to comment on my post. I knew you had to be a teacher. I liked so much when you said that God was following you all your life. He was! And now you are fully His!
Bev ...
I agree ... God's presence during my journey through cancer gave me an "unshakable Peace and unbelievable Joy in a good and beautiful God." I too am a survivor of abuse. God and I have been through many a dark time together. The difference for us I think is that having HIM puts light in a place that should be dark ... joy in a place that should be heartbreaking ... peace in a place that should be full of fear. That is what I refer to as being a "Pollyanna." Through His eyes I can see the bright side ... the blessing in trials. I watch people going through trial with such negativity and unrest. With God it does not have to be that way ... even when He asks us to walk through them instead of saving us from them. Thank you for being so publicly transparent. My prayers are with you in this journey.
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