“I Think I Can!”

Life isn’t always easy.

When life gives you lemons, I hear you’re supposed to make lemonade. When life throws you a curveball, you’re supposed to let the good ones go and swing at the bad ones, right?

Okay, I’m not crazy about lemonade, and I’m not much of a baseball fan, but I’ll try.

I have recently been dealing with an unnatural disaster situation in my house, and I’ve been forced to make adjustments to the usual comforts of home.

I’ve been reminded to let go and let God.

In the big scheme of things, my inconveniences are hardly worth noting. I’m not homeless. I haven’t been diagnosed with a catastrophic illness. I haven’t lost a loved one. I have income. I have a roof over my head, food in my refrigerator, and clothes in my closet. The sun is shining, and it’s a beautiful day!

Even though life is a little off-kilter for me right now, I can manage. Like The Little Engine That Could, I have been repeating her mantra, “I think I can. I think I can. I think I can.” Watty Piper’s tale of optimism reminds me to have faith.

Yes, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”! —Philippians 4:13

In Romans 12:12 Paul encourages me to “be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.”

Faith is the direct result of a prayer and a possibility!

Because life does happen and because life isn’t always easy, we should be mindful that we are not alone in any situation.

When my own engine runs out of coal, I know I can rely on God to help me over the mountain. He also provides me with family and friends and fellow believers who offer me encouragement to “think I can” do whatever I am called to do.

When the unexpected detours in life cause you to feel frustrated or try your patience or doubt your ability to cope, remember that “suffering produces endurance, endurance produces character, and character produces hope.”—Romans 5:3-4

In the foreword to Madeleine L’Engle’s book Walking on Water, Christian artist Nichole Nordeman offers some great advice on faith:  “Be encouraged. Close your eyes and let go. Remember, as Peter did, what it felt like when nothing was sustaining you in the small space between your feet and those daunting waves but the power of an unrelenting Love. And walk on.”

So, the next time you find yourself overwhelmed by life, have faith. Enjoy a little lemonade, or throw some baseballs with your nephew. God’s got this!

 “Go back?” he thought. “No good at all! Go sideways? Impossible! Go forward? Only thing to do! On we go!” So up he got, and trotted along with his little sword held in front of him and one hand feeling the wall, and his heart all of a patter and a pitter.” ― J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8KF7033dm18&w=560&h=315]

Isaiah 40:31; James 1:12; Proverbs 3:5-6

#gratefulitwasntafire #justbreathe