“For His anger is but for a moment; and his favor is life; weeping may endure for a night, but joy will come in the morning,” Psalm 30:5.
All of us have experienced hardship and difficulties in life at some point. It is an unavoidable part of life for the believer and the nonbeliever. How we react to these setbacks is what dictates exactly how much and how long we will suffer and what we go through. Our chosen response and the choices we make will also affect whether we overcome a bad situation or succumb to it.
A story is told of a man who opened his own ‘home improvement’ company. The man would go from house to house asking homeowners if he could fix things that were broken or not working. He would come in and notice what needed to be done and fix it at no cost. People would offer to compensate him but he would decline their offer. One day after working all day on a job, the homeowner offered to pay for the work that was done so well. As usual the man declined the pay. The homeowner asked him, “Why do you go from house to house fixing things that are in need of repair, but after you have done such a great job you refuse to be paid?” The man stopped and looked and said, “My wife and I have had some trying times in our marriage and she has decided to leave me. I do these kind deeds because I believe it will be therapeutic for me and help me deal with the hurt.” The homeowner was quite surprised to hear this and also very touched and moved. While the man was speaking, he said: “I’m believing God will restore my marriage and bring my wife back home.” The owner of the house could sense the pain and hurt that the man was experiencing. At the same time, he could also detect a sense of satisfaction and peace in the man’s unconditional act of kindness. “I do these thing for others in the midst of my own pain. It makes me feel better knowing that I helped someone today,” said the man. Despite being hurt this man displayed tremendous wisdom and maturity. He decided to turn a negative situation into a positive one. This was his deliberating choice of mind. “I will do these things for others,” he said, “and I believe God will help me. If it is His will, He will bring back my wife, bringing us together again in Jesus’ name.” In doing good for others, the man sought to restore his lifelong commitment to his marriage.
