In life we all experience ups and downs, but what matters the most is how you deal with them. There are certain times when life presents us with extremely positive experiences that  really charge us with energy, but there are also times that take us through rough patches. All these experiences whether positive or negative should make better people of us and build our personalities.

But that only can occur if you decide to handle the situation you´re facing in the best way possible.

Personally I am just coming to the end of a really, really bad cold. I know, a cold is really not much to complain about, but just to help most women’s picture of men, I have decided to use it as my illustration.

There is not much you can do about having a cold. If you´ve got it, you´ve got it. With me it starts with an itchy throat and then usually develops into a runny nose and cough for a couple of days before drying up.

This time however was a different story and instead of taking it easy and letting it do it´s thing, I kept on at my usual pace. The result being that it took longer than usual to get over and even took my voice away for a couple of days, not a fun thing for a pastor who is used to talking.

So for a few days I was forced out of my original schedule and suddenly had some time at home that was not pre-designated for anything.

I could have decided to just lay down and count how many tissues I used or waste time watching some boring TV program.

Instead I did what I could in the middle of my `life threatening´ situation 🙂 ….kept myself warm, drank loads of tea with ginger, read some stimulating material, listened to some amazing podcast teaching and watched some sermons from dynamic christian leaders.

I believe that the combination of these things (tea included) has helped me back to full health again.

If you´re in a hole (big or small) you can decide to feel sorry for yourself and mentally decide that this will be your place of living for the rest of your life….or you can do all you can to make your way out. It´s all up to you!

So whatever tough patch you maybe in hang on to Michael W Smiths lyrics:

People say that time will heal. But you know, they just don’t feel what you feel
Times are hard but God is so good, He’s never failed you, and He said He never would
He see’s your tears, He fights your fears
Hold on, help is on the way He said he’d never leave you or forsake you
Stay strong Help is on the way
He’d said he’d help you Just reach out and take his hand
He knows your heart, He lifts your head
He’s always close enough to hear every word you said
When you’re weak, He said He’s so much more
His arm is long enough to reach you where you are

Psalm 143:1
1 O LORD, hear my prayer, listen to my cry for mercy; in your faithfulness and righteousness come to my relief

Lamentations 3:22-23
22 Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. 23 They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.