At a Crossroad Today

Life is divided into three terms - that which was, which is, and which will be. Let us learn from the past to profit by the present, and from the present to live better in the future.

- William Wordsworth

As I sit here today, I am thinking of those people in my life that are dealing with issues right this very moment. These issues include (but not limited to) illness, emotional stress, disaster, pure lack of knowledge, finances, and mere uncertainty. Circumstances well within or out of their control have placed them at a crossroad today. As they stand at that crossroad, a choice is to be made. "How do I let the issue define me?" The answer they give will determine their future. Either they can make the choice to let it drag them down, and use it to limit their potential OR they can learn from it, and come out the other side stronger and wiser as a result.

Over the years, I have chosen both roads. There have been times when I let a single event drag me down and threaten to destroy me. I gave it power over me. It robbed me of my joy. I allowed myself to believe and live a lie. It was the easier route to take. I use my circumstances as an excuse not to try harder. Blaming it on someone  or something else relieved me of having to make a choice. Saying "I didn't know" was such an easy way out. Throwing a pity party and letting Satan tell me I was no good, that I had brought things on myself, that I didn't deserve to be happy took no effort at all. There is a line from "Pretty Woman' with Julia Roberts and Richard Gere.... "The bad stuff is easier to believe." When we are told we mean nothing, we're lazy or ugly, or we brought something on ourselves, we believe it so much faster than taking a compliment with a smile and a "thank-you."

The flipside of that are the times I have decided to accept the circumstances, hold my head high, and learn from it. We all have trying times, whether we messed up or something totally out of our control happens, such as a tornado hitting your house. Choosing to face it, and ask God to guide us and hold us through it makes all the difference in the world. When we turn it over to Him, miracles happen. Joy is found. Does it mean we won't ever experience trouble or have hard times? No. It means we can get through it, and not all alone. Christ is here to meet us wherever we are. We are loved and valuable.

As I write this, I am praying for those dealing with such issues. You do not have to experience anything alone. Jesus will meet you there.

Jesus Will Meet You There by Steven Curtis Chapman 

When you think you've hit the bottom and the bottom gives way and you fall into a darkness

no words can explain and you don't know how you make it out alive

Jesus will meet you there.
When the doctor says, "I'm sorry,we don't know what else to do."

and you're looking at your family wondering how they'll make it through...

Whatever road this life takes you down, Jesus will meet you there.
He knows the way to wherever you are

He knows the way to the depths of your heart

He knows the way 'cause he's already been where you're going

Jesus will meet you there.
When the jury says, "Guilty,"and the prison doors close

When the one you love says nothing, just packs up and goes

When the sunlight comes and your world's still dark,

Jesus will meet you there.
When you've failed again and all your second chances have been used

And the heavy weight of guilt and shame is crushing down on you...

And all you have is one last cry for help

Jesus will meet you there.
He knows the way to wherever you are

He knows the way to the depths of your heart

He knows the way 'cause he's already been where you're going
When you realize the dreams you've hadf or your child won't come true

when the phone rings in the middle of the night with tragic news...

Whatever valley you must walk through,

Jesus will meet you there.
He will meet you there.
Jesus will meet you there