by Sabrina Justison

Does life just happen to you?

Some days that’s how I feel!  I thought I knew what to expect, and WHAM! I get blindsided by something that changes my whole day in an instant.

There’s no way for us to predict how each day will go.  Only God sees the whole picture.

But we DO have control over our response to the unexpected in life.  We can choose to be PASSIVE or ACTIVE participants in all of it.

To be PASSIVE means:

* I watch my plans go down the tubes.

* I feel frustrated by the change in plans.

* I feel discouraged at my inability to stay on top of things.

* I feel paralyzed to move forward.  After all, something else will probably just hit when I try!

To be ACTIVE means:

* I see my plans disintegrate and choose to ask God for a new agenda.

* I feel frustrated and confess with my mouth that I am nothing in my own strength, but can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

* I feel discouraged, but seek God for the wisdom and power to accomplish what He has for me to do today.

* I may FEEL paralyzed, but I KNOW that I belong to the God who says, “Get up, take your mat, and go home.” (Mk. 2:11)

Because of His authority in my life, I can get up in spite of paralyzing circumstances, I can take up my mat (whatever the thing is that is a sign of my crippled condition — an addiction?  my anger?  my fear?  depression?), and I can go home.

“Home” is where I have an unshakable place to live:  the center of God’s good and loving plans for my life.

On Sunday, Pastor Perry preached about freedom from addiction.  He spoke of the worship of these idols that we KNOW have no power to help us, yet we serve them anyway.  In Jesus’ name, he proclaimed freedom for believers in Christ to no longer be passive when life hits us with trials and temptations we were not expecting.

We can be ACTIVE participants in the good things that God has for us.

Get up, take your mat, and go home.