When bad things happen to us, like cancer, many of us want to hold onto it, bring it INWARD and fill ourselves with self-pity. Let me tell you; I can throw an awesome pity party. I mean wallow in the depths, woe is me pity party! It’s actually pretty easy to do. You just focus on all the things that have gone wrong and how horrible you feel. Or you start questioning, why did this have to happen to me? Don’t get me wrong, these are all very valid reactions to a life changing disease. Before you know it, all that anguish is filling you up and making the situation even worse.
But here’s the thing about when you hold everything inward, eventually it is going to find a way to get out. How it goes OUTWARD varies from person to person. Some people lash out in anger and seek to destroy anything or anyone who gets in their path. Others seek revenge and want to make someone pay for all the pain they are feeling. Still others decide to do nothing and let everything just happen to them without a fight.
Both of these options are very real but what if there was another way? What if there was a third option? Good news, folks. There is; it’s UPWARD. When we take all this pain and sorrow and turn it upward to God, He just showers His love right back down on us. He doesn’t make it go away but He does give us the strength to get through the crisis. That strength might be in the form of a loving caregiver, a neighbor who brings a meal or a friend who just listens. His hand is outstretched through so many people.
How will you choose to deal with the adversity that happens in your life? Inward with self-pity, outward with anger or upward with God’s love. Even though you may go through all options, the final choice is ultimately yours. For me, even sometimes through tear filled eyes, I choose upward.
Blessings, Cindy J
Footprints of Hope 