Optimism in the Face of Adversity

I’d say that most the time I fancy myself an optimist. No matter the situations I find myself in, I can usually find something to be positive about or some glimmer of light on the horizon. I would also consider myself a very open and genuine person. I invest into all my relationships in life physically, spiritually and emotionally, and I’m all in. I don’t hold back. On the whole, I would say I’m a very trusting person and I find it easy to believe people. These are generally qualities that I think most people find desirable in a person.

There are consequences, however, to this degree of investment ranging as far as the pendulum swings (I don’t even know if that makes sense, but it does to me). When one of my friends makes some great stride in their relationship with God, I feel their joy, I experience spiritual fulfillment with them. However, when a friend or loved one falls on hard times or does something stupid, I get to experience the whole gamut of dramatic emotion. From heartbreak to marital bliss and from tears of sorrow to joyous laughter, the entire spectrum of human emotion is mine to share in. Maybe that’s what Paul meant when he wrote Romans 12:15 “Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.”

It’s hard though, when you’re the one going through the tough stuff. Having friends around to share it with is nice, but I’ll tell you what’s even better: Jesus. Matthew 11:28-30 “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

I’ve been really stressed out lately. I was driving down the road today with all these questions reeling through my mind and I swear I heard Him say to me, “Don’t you believe that I have great things in store for you? Do you not think that I have a great plan?” Then this verse came to mind Matthew 6:33-34 “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”

So why do I worry? Why do I freak out?

God knows what I need. You know what I need.

Jon Foreman

Your Love is Strong

That’s my perspective

Ben Peters

In my weakness He is strong

Wow, it sure has been a long time since I last updated my blog! A little update on myself since the last post: I’m 22 now, I started working full time for a local photographer in efforts to grow in my own abilities as I pursue photography as a career, I have an amazing family and amazing friends and I’m absolutely in love with the life that Jesus has given me!

Now that we’ve got that out of the way we can talk about something that’s been on my mind recently: strengths and weaknesses. This past month or so I’ve been reading this book called God Guy: Becoming the Man You’re Meant to Be by Michael DiMarco. I suppose this book was actually written with high school guys in mind but the simplicity of the writing and the direct approach that the author takes toward things caught my eye so I picked up a copy. As you can probably tell by the title, this book is about becoming the man God wants you to be (for the ladies out there, the authors wife wrote a book called God Girl and I’m sure it’s just as good).

I was pretty much breezing through this book picking up things here and there and being reminded of truths that I had already learned when I stumbled upon the section of the book on strengths and weaknesses. The author makes a bold claim, “ Being honest about what you can and can’t do, where you are weak and where you are strong, is the quickest way to get into line with God’s will for your life.” He then goes on to give examples such as guilt, resentment, repeated failure, procrastination, character, attitude etc. All of this got me thinking: I know I’m on the path that God has laid out for me, but could examining my life a little more closely help me to avoid some of the pot holes I keep hitting?

So I set to it. I started looking at my own strengths and weaknesses and started examining myself. I started to realize that things that had previously been weaknesses in my life had now all but disappeared. However, at the same time, things have been popping up in my life that I have never seen as weaknesses or struggles until now. Here’s what I found out: I’m a very confident person in Christ, but I’m very concerned with the way other people view me. I’m prideful and narcissistic and I think I’m pretty cool (ask my family, they’ll tell you). I’m very concerned with the physical and spiritual well being of my friends, but sometimes I do childish things and try to control people/things. I’m always encouraging people to follow through with spiritual disciplines but really I should be taking my own advice.

The list goes on. It seems for every strength I find; I have at least two weaknesses. And so I challenge myself and whomever you are reading this, let us do away with the sin that ensnares us. Maybe you are like myself and need to give up some childish behaviors, 1 Corinthians 13:11-13 is for us “When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known. And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.”

Maybe you feel dirty, stuck in the sins of your past, or like God hasn’t forgiven you. For you it’s 2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new”

Maybe you have some physical ailment. Please remember 2 Corinthians 12:9 “And He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”

Nothing gets so bad, A whisper from your Father couldn't fix it.

He whispers like a bridge, it's a river spanned.

Brand New – Sowing Season

That’s my perspective

Ben Peters