I recently read a devotion by Max Lucado on “choosing.” Most of us have daily choices. We choose what we will wear and what we will eat. We often choose what we will do with our day. If employed, the day may be planned for us, but we have choices for our schedule before and after work.

When we are given circumstances in life which we did not choose, we choose how to handle these situations. We can be angry and filled with rage, or accept it with grace and wait upon the Lord.  Yesterday, was one of the arduous days which I did not choose. I chose to list my house to sell, but I did not choose the events which transpired.   For those of you that have been following my journey to sell my home, you know it has been long; four years. I have prayed and I have waited. I believed God brought me a buyer. I was asked to vacate my house, as it appeared an offer would be presented.

For over two hours, I waited to return to my house. The offer never came. I now had a choice. I could be upset, frustrated and discouraged or I could recall that God is in control. I was never upset, but I was discouraged. I was frustrated that I had been asked to leave my house and “kill time” for two hours only to realize it was for naught.

But God! My choice was to rely on Him and continue to pray that in His time He will bring a buyer for my house. I fell asleep praying, but awakened a few hours later with thoughts of my “choices.” I have no control over the actions of the people I believed were going to purchase my home. I do have a choice in knowing God does have the right buyer at the right time. We also always know God’s timing is seldom our timing.

I reflected on Max’s words, “I choose joy. I will invite my God to be the God of circumstance. I will refuse the temptation to be cynical. I will refuse to see any problem as anything less than an opportunity to see God. Sometimes choosing joy amidst times of heartache and challenges is difficult, but we can choose.

I choose self-control. I am a spiritual being. After this body is dead, my spirit will soar. I refuse to let what will rot, rule the eternal. I choose self-control. I will be drunk only by joy. I will be impassioned only by my faith. I will be influenced only by God. I will be taught only by Christ. I choose self-control.”

Today is a new day; a day of new situations and choices. Yes, my mind, heart and body are growing weary, not only from waiting to sell my home, but waiting for so many complex situations in my life. I agree with Max, I will invite God to be the God of all my circumstances. Romans 12:12 NIV, “ Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.”