After the winter we had last year, I have been dreading winter this year. The snow started at Thanksgiving and just never stopped until Spring. It didn’t seem like we had any breaks at all. However, after contemplating it, I can’t do anything about it, so why worry about what will come?
I have had seasons in life where I dreaded each day or the next project because I wasn’t sure what I would face. In fact, I would start to assume something would go wrong, as opposed to looking forward to great results.
Now, I’m not a karma guy or a “what goes around comes around” guy. However, there is something to thinking positively and facing each day with joy. James said to consider it pure joy when we face trials. Paul said to rejoice in the Lord always. In Job chapter 2, after Job’s wife tells Job to curse God and die (sounds like bad advice), Job said, “You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?”
In Ecclesiastes, Solomon says there is a season for everything. And yes, there is a season for the warm sunshine and a season for beautiful leaves, and as much as I don’t want to admit it, there is a time for the snow to fall in northern Michigan.
Next time we want to live anxiously or dread what lies ahead, remember to rejoice in the Lord always. Living with joy is a much more fun way to journey through life. Laughing is much more enjoyable than crying. And living with peace is much more satisfying than living with a mind in chaos, filled with worry, anxiety, and doubt.