And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Philippians 4:8

I was having a rough day. Nothing was going right it seemed and everything I had worked so hard to make progress on was crumbling right before my eyes. It was mentally and emotionally exhausting. My mind was completely on myself and the situation that immediately surrounded me. There was no other perspective besides my own. An altered reality based upon my feelings at the time. I was feeling sorry for myself. I had it so bad! Couldn’t everyone see that?

Have you ever felt like this? Like there’s no one else in the world that has ever been dealt these cards in life? Have you ever just sat down and had an “all-out cry your eyes out pity party?”

I have. More than I’d like to admit.

The other day, my boys and I were in the car and the conversation veered toward them and their feelings about how bad they had it in life. Their parents are divorced. It was not what they wanted and now they have to deal with so much heartache because of it. They are children. It’s a natural reaction and merited feeling. They have not yet figured out how to look on the positive side of things. They don’t realize how much it would help them have a happier life overall.

I’m driving and hypocritically thinking “Can they not see how good they have it? They have two parents who love them and spend time with them. They have now other additions to their family and more people who love them than ever before. God, show me what to say to remind them of what they do have in their life that is good. Show me how to teach them to be grateful.”

God clearly spoke to me that morning. He told me that I could not TELL them anything while I was doing THE SAME EXACT THING. I was the one that needed that lesson.

I’ve had the “poor pitiful me” attitude often since my life took a downward turn through the events that led up to the divorce, the divorce, and post divorce. I’ve spent hours curled up in a ball on my bed crying my eyes out in pain and thinking this is the worst thing ever.

It is good to allow yourself to feel pain and release emotion sometimes. However, to the extent of thinking that this is the worst thing ever and allowing our mind to run wild and free with thoughts of negativity is not what God wants from us.

Completely ignoring the pain and heartache and only focusing on the positive creates a world that is not real. It doesn’t give us the opportunity to analyze our behavior and emotions and begin the heal from what caused the pain.

But in general, God wants us to think on the positives of life. To be grateful and content for the life we do have!

When we shift our thoughts to the things of God and His blessings in our life, we begin to see outside of ourselves. When we focus upward and keep our eyes on Him, we can have hope that we will get through this and come to the other side of it a better person.

We can have confidence that ALL things work together for the good of those who love God (Romans 8:28).

I am convinced that I would not be where I am today without the trials I have gone through in life. It has been bad and I have many times wondered if I can go on another day, but I am on the other side of it and I am more thankful for my Creator than I have ever been. I am more hungry than ever to know God’s heart and to seek Him in my life. I recognize my need for Him in every area and I marvel at His mercy and grace in my life.

I could not have made it to where I am today without Him giving me a chance, over and over again. He has made me new and cleansed my heart and will forever be my God, no matter what life throws at me. How could anyone think “poor pitiful me!” and know that?!!!

I am human and make mistakes and will continue to need a reminder of this. I will fall into the despicable pit of feeling sorry for myself from time to time.

But I must remind myself to think on the things that are true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. 

With God in my life, nothing is impossible!