When Life Gives You Lemons

There is a notable saying "When life gives you lemons, you make lemonade", often quoted to people whom one was trying to encourage to stay, be or think positive. No matter what life gives you, there is always a better solution. So if life gives you lemons, you make lemonade. You don't suck them dry in your mouth.

There is always a better solution.

Try telling that to one who is going through hard times, difficulties or trials, and see how they respond. For everyone that says, "Thank you", there will be another who says, "Leave me alone! What do you know?"

So why the different reactions to life's lemons? The Swallow's guess is that it depends on:

• the person - his outlook, his attitude, his pursuit in life.
• the circumstances - how difficult the trials, how tough the challenges, how burdensome the difficulties.
• the support around him - loving, or an additional burden.

Staying, being or thinking positive is not as easy as it sounds when you are the one going through the tough times. Death of a loved one. Loss of a job. Cancer or other life-threatening diseases.

Or maybe it is just the usual storms of life that hit you. The daily situations that keep coming at you. Like looming headlines that you are struggling to meet. Peer pressure. Projects that do not turn out the way you want them too. Acclaims that do not quite meet your expectations after all the hard work you've put into your career. War at the office and at home.

Stay positive? Be positive? Think positive? Make lemonade?

So what did the Swallow do when she was facing pain? She chose her Best Friend. She chose to pull her eyes away from her pressing situations and turn them upon her Lord instead. She chose to cry out to her Saviour because He knew what she was going through. He was her Comfort, her Strength, her Shelter and her Deliverer.

"Even when you can't see His hand, trust His heart".

She chose life. A life based on His Word which sustained peace in her heart and He proved to be that calm in the midst of her storms. A life surrendered to His will, no matter the circumstances.  A life that was based on the love her Lord Jesus had for her. A life that was redeemed with her Lord's own life given up on the cross of salvation.

"I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live." John 11:25 (NKJV)

So what do you do when you are facing pain? What can you do?

What will you choose? "Thank you" or "Leave me alone! What do you know?"