Life is an interesting thing. When we enter into it, many details of our life already exist when we get here. We don't get to choose our parents or families. We don't get to choose the house we live in or how we look. Those are all planned and decided for us, whether by our parents, or the great Planner Himself. More than details like these, we are also born into something else: sin. We have no control over this. We are born into a sinful nature, each & every one of us. The damage was done back at the beginning of the world that we all come to face in our individual lives.
The amazing thing that the Lord gave us though is the ability to make choices. Because of that freedom, we have the chance to really change a lot of things.
If one is born into less than desirable family conditions, they can move on from that when they start their own family - they can choose someone as their spouse who can help them turn that around.
Just as one is born into a difficult family, they are born into the family of sinners. However, we are incredibly blessed to have the choice to move out of that family and back into the family of Christ. All it takes is a choice.
Jesus made a choice to love us & die for us to make a place for us in that family. He chose us, from the beginning. He wants us, even when our earthly families may not. Even though our sin causes us separation from where we want to be and who we want to be, He provides that way out. Because He wants to.
Love is much more meaningful when the other person chooses to give it. When my friends tell me they love me, it's not because they feel like they should; there are plenty of other people they could have as friends. But I know they mean it because they choose to spend time with me & build a relationship. Love in any relationship is so special when you know it's not because they have to love you, but they choose to look past all your faults & keep you anyway. It's so much more genuine flowing out of choice rather than out of force. And Jesus' love flows out of choice. God created us because He loves us & wanted us to enjoy Him forever. And even though we messed it up, He still made a way for us. All we have to do is accept what He has for us. Accept our brokenness, our sin, our position of need, & He fills that for us.
Even with all the things we encounter when we enter this world, there is a way out of any situation we get into to make it better. With the right outlook & focus, we can always choose to see the good, & find a way to make that happen in our lives, with God's help. Also, if I am looking at every situation & focusing on things I can individually do to improve it rather than blaming others or simply sulking about it, I will be more positive & constantly improve myself. Not to mention the love the Lord has for me fills me with an incredible joy that I just can't seem to get rid of, even when things are really hard. So, I think we just need to realize that even with any cards we've been dealt, we can always make it better. We can always choose to see the good, & more importantly focus on the ways the Lord could use it to accomplish His plans & purposes. We aren't responsible for anyone's actions but our own, but the Lord can use absolutely anything in anyone's life to fulfill His ultimate plan, which is amazing. If we choose to simply trust His will & do what we can do to do our part by following His word & daily direction, there's hardly anyway we can fail. After all, if He is for us, who can be against us? Let's choose to trust Him & trust that He will bring us through WHATEVER life can throw at us.
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