Beyond Circumstances

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There are some things that are difficult to get past. We get stuck. We wallow. We justify where we are because of what happened to us. Maybe we even explain (or shout) to God, that because of what He did, or let happen, we can no longer trust Him.


Have you ever been in that place?


When my son Isaiah’s life changed on September 8, 2015, it would have been easy for him to look at his circumstances and decided he was done. It would have been easy to “curse God and die.” (Job 2:9) I myself wondered if all of the hopes and dreams I had for him would die along with his inability to do all he could do before. When Isaiah woke up after having emergency brain surgery, he could not talk, walk, eat, go to the bathroom, or anything he could do days before. Over the next several weeks he was able to gain some of what he lost, but it was all different.

He was different.

It has been 5 years now, and Isaiah refuses to allow his circumstances to define who he is. He is aware that he is different now, but as he looks at the whole picture he knows that in many ways he is better. His spirit is stronger and more connected to his Creator. He does have moments of frustration, but he gets past them quickly. He possesses a supernatural joy most of us have a hard time grasping even when our lives haven’t been turned upside down! His joy is contagious.

He is able to praise God beyond his circumstances. . . and that makes all the difference.

Are you able to look beyond your circumstances into a place where you find, and even praise God for them?

I wonder where we would find ourselves if we could look at our circumstances through a lens like that! I wonder what unspeakable joy we would find if we chose to change our lamentations into joyful shouts of praise.

“I will praise the Lord no matter what happens. I will constantly speak of His glories and grace. I will boast of all his kindness to me. Let all who are discouraged take heart. Let us praise the Lord together and exalt His name.” -Psalm 34:1-3

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