Thrive Where You're Planted (Ep #7)

There is a difference between surviving and thriving. Many times we cannot change our surrounding circumstances. They often are what they are. To be honest, we do not have control over most things happening in the world today, although we can control certain things within our individual life and local surroundings. When the storms of life come, especially those beyond our reach of control, we have various ways to respond. Will we stand up for what we know to be moral and right, or will we sit down, perhaps even hiding until the situation has come and gone? In every situation we have the ability to barely scrape by and get through it, in essence surviving, or we have the opportunity to make the most of it while doing what we know is right and gaining experience along the way, in essence thriving.
     Thriving involves reading the situation at hand, evaluating the best way to help better yourself and others around you, and praying for God to show you where He is in all of it. Trust me, God is there. Nothing is too small nor too big for God to be a part of. God cares about the grand-scheme of the universe and He cares about the way you are feeling on a bad day. He cares about the oceans as well as the streams. He cares about you. He cares about your family, friendships, and your daily life. God cares about everyone else around you as well.
     Now is the time to open our eyes spiritually and see through His eyes. Now is the time to feel what He feels, hear what He hears, and act as He would act. Now is the time for deep empathy, understanding what is at stake with lost and hurting people all across the world as well as right next door. We will make it through any challenge presented, because we are a resilient people. However, it matters how we get there. We must choose to also care about the "why" and "how" which lead and motivate the "what" in everything we say and do. Now is the time to carry a deep sense of responsibility for others, while operating in and through the HOPE OF THE WORLD, Jesus Christ. Choose today to thrive where you're planted. To quote Frozen 2, "Do the next right thing."

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