“Therefore, we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day…while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.” 2 Corinthians 4:16 & 18, NKJV.
We have all heard the saying, “you cannot be in two places at one time.” While no one would argue the reality that physically, no one can be in two places at the same time, I believe this physics fact has a caveat we rarely consider, and I will attempt to prove it. Have you ever been driving your car, deep in thought, when you arrived at your destination and suddenly realized you have no conscious recollection of the scenery in between where you started the journey and ended? Or perhaps you have had a conversation with someone when the only thing you hear is, “So, what do you think?” You have no idea what the topic is because your mind was somewhere else, which can be very embarrassing. Well, I must confess to having experienced both scenarios and know that one can be in two places at one time, one physical and the other, mental.
When things are hard, life has a way of triggering the human desire to “find our happy place.” Circumstances can make us uncomfortable, or we wish we were any place different than where we are; it is then we do have a choice. Another more current phrase is “we cannot always choose our circumstances, but we can choose how we react to them.” As a disciple of Jesus Christ, resilience, and joy in the face of turmoil and strife are gifts from God.
Many times, throughout the New Testament, followers of Jesus were persecuted and imprisoned for their faith, yet time after time while their bodies suffered, they sang and praised God. Our world in the year 2024 promises to be tumultuous as we in the United States prepare for national elections and the war in the Middle East continues. While God wants us to be knowledgeable and prepared, He does not want us to be fearful. Pray for our leaders, trust in God, and be joyful no matter your circumstances. Be resilient and remember, joy comes from the Lord.
For deeper study, read Matthew 24:6-13.