OPPORTUNITIES

As I sat bemoaning certain situations in my life, I remembered something I heard once in a movie that stuck with me. God gives us opportunities to be the person we desire to be. That’s not exactly how the movie put it but that is what I got out of it. I realized that my life experiences and choices and how I feel about those choices mold and shape me. Do I resent having to make those choices or being put in those situations or do I embrace those moments and make the choices that make me the person I was meant to be. Even the mistakes I make speak lessons to me. They reveal my weaknesses and vulnerabilities, not to condemn me but to protect me from myself and others who may desire to take advantage. I’m not to become hard and unfeeling just aware. My successes confirm the vision inside but they don’t define the vision.  I see now how hard times, bad days, difficult situations and unexpected crisis are opportunities to trust what is inside.

This is the quote from the scene I referenced above. It is from the movie Evan Almighty. The actor is representing God speaking.

God:” Let me ask you something…If someone prays for patience, do you think God gives them patience? Or does he give them the opportunity to be patient? If he prayed for courage, does God give them courage? Or does He give them opportunities to be courageous? If someone prayed for the family to be closer, you think God zaps them with warm fuzzy feelings? Or does He give them opportunities to love each other?”

There are certain people in life that I truly admire and I have come to see that they all have certain attributes. They follow their heart even when misunderstood, they love people and have a heart and identify with the underdog, they want desperately to encourage and empower, they have gone through incredible hardship with grace, dignity and courage and they have an unmovable faith for the vision in their spirit no matter what it looks like. That’s who I want to be.  So I guess the next time I feel like complaining I will be thankful for the opportunities that allow me to become the person that I so desire to be. I guess that is what was meant in:

Romans 5:3-5 NIV

Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.

With Love, Ms. Wanda, GAC