We each have our own set of circumstances in life, our own hardships, troubles, trials, challenges, illnesses, weaknesses, struggles, misfortunes, sadness’s, and our own set of joys, pleasures, happiness’s, blessings, strengths, celebrations, and enjoyments.

We get to choose how we think about our lives, about every experience. We determine what the circumstances mean by our thoughts.

We tend to think our circumstances are unique or that no one would understand. We think poor me for having to go through or endure or face this situation, or we think how unfair.

But everyone, yes everyone, has circumstances and situations and un-fairness’s they face and their own shames because of whatever they have done or experienced or what has been said to them.

The specifics, the details, the exact situations are different, but the human experience is basically the same.

We all have the same emotions to choose from. We do uniquely process life based on our environment and our personalities. But. We are all responding out of fear or out of love.

Thanks be to God who meets us where we are!

Thanks be to God who wants us to move through our experiences and emotions.

Thanks be to God who wants to use our story to teach us about Himself, His love, hope, peace, security.

Thanks be to God that we can renew our minds on His Truth!

We choose how we think about our story.

Our story makes us who we are.

And who we are is GOOD!

Our story equips us for living God’s Truth and love right where we are, doing what we are doing, allowing God to work through us and transform us as we TRUST Him. As we believe in and receive His love for us. As we allow the Holy Spirit to work in us and make us more like Jesus!

We are not alone. And we’ve never been alone because God is always with us! Even when we don’t feel or recognize Him. He doesn’t leave us.

We must come to realize, appreciate, and understand that we are all so similar. We have so much in common.

We must know our worth in value in Jesus Christ no matter what happens to us or what anyone else says or does.

We must believe in God’s love for us, believe in God’s goodness and abundance.

We must believe there is an endless suppy of grace and love and mercy and peace!

Instead of looking at our differences or comparing our stories or making judgments about one another or acting like if something good happens for someone else it means something good can’t happen for us.

We can all experience God’s love and hope and joy and security! These are available to us in unlimited supply.

We all want love and connection and to be seen and heard.

Our fellow humans may let us down, but God never will.

And when we trust in His love for us then we can show up in love and support and encouragement for others.

May this be true of me!

May this be true of you!

Amen.