When Life Isn't As It 'Should' Be...

Sometimes things don't turn out the way we think they should, right?  Did you get a new job only to discover you preferred your old one?  Have you bought a new house and realized it's not the dream you thought it would be?  Are you and your spouse not where you want to be in your marriage? 

I could go on but you get the idea.  So what do we do when these thoughts hit us?  For me it's time to get back to basics. Here are some facts I remind myself of:

1.  Get the Big Picture - I'm just passing through on this Earth, my real home is in heaven.  Even though this is all I've ever known, I need to rely on my faith that Jesus is preparing a home for me there and all this "Earth stuff" will someday be a distant memory.

2.  Learn Something and Be Patient - There could be a good reason for things to be this way right now.  I need to admit that I'm not as smart as I think I am and I don't see every detail of my life and future.  Bumps in the road are part of life and I need to be patient.

3.  Who's the Boss? - My life is not about me, I'm only here to serve God and give Him glory.  There's something wonderful about realizing that I'm NOT the center of my universe.  I'm one small part of an amazing tapestry that God is weaving.

4.  Look up and look around -   When I focus my attention away from my "sad" circumstance I usually find someone who can use my help, my prayers, a note of encouragement, a hot meal, etc...

Those of us who live in Western civilized cultures MUST remember that we enjoy a standard of living that is positively royal in comparison to millions and millions of people on this planet. As my son tells me regularly when he hears me start to complain "That's a first-world problem, mom."  He's SO right!!  Thanks, Dom!

What do you do when life isn't as it "should" be??