Senior Living - October 28, 2016

Staying steady in the ups and downs of life

October 28

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. - Hebrews 13:8

Many years ago, the Grand Rapids Press reported a story about a man who owned a small foreign car. He was bragging constantly about the amazing gas mileage he was getting. So his friends decided to have a little fun. Each night, one of them would sneak over to the car and pour a few gallons of gas into the tank.

It wasn’t long before the owner began to brag even more… boasting of getting as much as 90 miles per gallon! All the while, the pranksters laughed when he left the room. But what was even more fun to watch was when they stopped refilling the tank. The poor owner couldn’t figure out what was happening to his car!

It’s been said that disappointment is the difference between expectations and reality. We often play out in our minds how we expect certain things will happen. But circumstances are almost always different than we thought, and events often unfold differently than we planned. These changes cause us to experience emotional peaks and valleys.

What’s important to realize in times like these is that we aren’t the ones who are in control. When our expectations aren’t met by a person or a situation, we calmly and confidently acknowledge that God is a loving King who seeks our best in everything.

Trust God in the ups and downs of life. He’ll never let you down!

Prayer Challenge

Ask God to give you steadfast trust in Him in the ups and downs of life.

Questions for Thought

Think of a time when you were extremely up or down emotionally. What were the circumstances that put you there?

How might fully trusting in God’s control have helped you in that situation?

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