Circumstance and Choices

"When times are good, be happy; but when times are bad, consider: God has made the one as well as the other..." - Ecclesiastes 7:14

A minor situation today has left me pondering this subject. Years prior to the prolific ability of obtaining most anything from businesses through the internet and a living in a better economic position, if a need arose for something that the small town I lived in did not have, I was given a wonderful way to obtain the needed item and quell the ever-present restlessness within me. Just hop in the car and head to a bigger town to search out the said item. Now, with the cost of a gallon of gas at an exorbitant price and income so very tight, with the ability to just go online and purchase the said item at the same or even a less price, the choice to just go has become for most a no-brainer; order the said item off the internet, stay home and find another way to curb the restlessness.

However, the very act of going settles me down, allows me to process, evaluate, and examine my circumstances. The restlessness within abates so that I am more productive, able to better handle what is happening in my life, deal with what needs dealt. Going gives me greater clarity of my thoughts, of really seeing my circumstances and the path that has led me here. The bible tells us that “a cheerful heart is good medicine” (Proverbs 17:22) and going helps me to be cheerful so I can give of God through being me better.

The choice is left in my hands. It’s not a big decision, a huge choice. It’s not even an important choice. Yet, how I make the choice and how I choose to see this is as a choice is what is important. For each choice made and in choosing how to view the choice has repercussions. Yes, like ripples in a pond. Today I went from being frustrated at the circumstances believing in some part of me that brought me to the choice to be made, to understanding that it has been and is choices that have brought me to making yet another choice.

Today, I choose to once again cling to the scripture and believe that “I can do all things in Him who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13). I will “commit to the Lord whatever (I) do” (Proverbs 16:3a). How about you? What kind of choices are you making?

Digging Deeper: Deuteronomy 31:6; Jeremiah 29:11