How will you choose to deal with it?

Good morning everyone,

Our theme for this month: “The Great Adventure”

Our Bible verse for today: “Rejoice in hope; be patient in affliction; be persistent in prayer.” Romans 12:12 (CSB)

Our thought for today: “How will you choose to deal with it?”

This morning, I want to return us to our thought from yesterday regarding choosing joy. There’s an old saying that is sometimes attributed to Buddha, but which is certainly a Biblical principle too, that “pain is inevitable but suffering is optional.” It means that in this life we will all have painful moments – many times and in many ways, that’s just life. We can’t always choose whether or not we will be hurt, but we can choose how we respond to it. You can give into it and wallow in misery, or you can rise above it and live well in spite of it.

In his book, “The Spartan Way: Eat Better; Train Better; Think Better; Be Better” life coach and personal trainer Joe DeSena wrote, “Life is tough; therefore, you have to be tougher. You cultivate toughness by facing challenges and dealing with them, not by turning away.”

In other words, we must be intentional about facing the difficult times in life and doing what we can to overcome them. That’s what Paul was writing about in Romans 12:12. He was calling for intentionality. You choose to rejoice and to have hope. You choose to be patient as you deal with affliction. You choose to be persistent in prayer. Developing a hopeful, optimistic, and even joyful approach to life is a learned behavior. It is intentionally cultivated by doing it.

How do we do it? By establishing discipline in our life. We do it by developing a pattern of thinking and living that keeps us immersed in positive uplifting influences and which also keeps us active in meaningful ministry activities. Paul addresses the importance of meaningful ministry in the very next verse, “Share with the saints in their needs; pursue hospitality.” Those two thoughts are connected. Verse 12 leads to verse 13. One way to rejoice in hope, and to be patient in affliction and persistent in prayer, is to take your eyes off yourself and serve others.

The way to achieve what Paul described in Romans 12:12 is to do things like pray, read your Bible, faithfully attend church services, listen to uplifting Christian music, surround yourself with encouraging Christian friends, read good Christian books, and take your eyes off yourself and instead serve others in need. Those are intentional actions we decide to engage in and we do so habitually.

The attitude you have while on this great adventure of living the Christian life is your choice. Whether you wallow in misery and despair or move forward in victory and with hope is up to you. Pain is inevitable, it’s just part of life. But how much you suffer from it is largely up to you. It will depend on how you choose to deal with it.

God bless,
Pastor Jim

(If you like what you’re reading in these daily devotionals, and if you would like more content from Oak Hill Baptist Church, join us on Sundays at 10:00, in-person if you are nearby or, if you are geographically distant or if you just can’t make it, online at www.YouTube.com/@oakhillbaptistcrossville

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