Most of my life I have had many experiences and emotional peaks that I wish I could go back to. These moments could never seem to last enough time: moments with family that has passed away, services at church with people that have moved on, vacations that had to come to an end, projects at your job that were easy but were done quick, people we have met along the way that we wish we could have done more for; the list truly goes on and on. And while I wish I could have moments like these all the time, I have learned that these are not moments that are just whipped up or easily created. They are natural phases of life, giving us as mankind a peek inside of what true joys and the utmost happiness is supposed to feel like.
On the flip side of the coin I can see many moments in my life that I rarely choose to look back to: times I have failed, times I have failed others, times I gave up too early, other times I simply quit just because my willingness was stubborn, times I should have shown love, times I should have held my ground; trust me, if you look you will find some things you wish you could never remember. And while we try our best to avoid the controllable things we can work to improve there will always be moments where we are tested that present opportunities for our not so good half to show itself in its fullness. These also are the not so glamorous chapters of life that in their own way begin to define who we are and how we learn from our mistakes.
I want to speak to those of us out there who are trying to live stuck in these emotional highs and lows: When the new chapter comes don’t be afraid to turn the page. While I wish that I could hang onto or keep some moments or situations going I now realize that we must learn to handle the good and the bad. For if we only knew of the good things of God we would never realize the power of redemption and resurrection in our trials. Do not be afraid to move forward from those things that have hindered you. Learn to use the good things of God to forgive others and to move on with your head held high. And as you move forward from the present hindrances you will find that out of something bad can come something good. Learn to embrace the things that come to seemingly destroy you; or as the bible tells us to do when it says for us to “rejoice in the midst of our fiery trials”. That is the spirit that comes from the text you read. At first it did not make sense to me but now I understand. Do not live in something that was meant to only be for a season. Shake it off and move forward to the next good thing that is out there for you to experience.