Staying Positive!

Staying Positive!

How can we stay positive when we are encountering a negative situation one after another? It can happen, we can do it, but it takes work and discipline. I think what a lot people don’t realize is, we were not born negative, we were born to be positive individuals. God tells us in scripture Genesis 1:27 (NIV) “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.”  We are created to be like God. We know that God is not negative! He is everything that is good! Why then is there so much negativity in our relationships, marriage, friends, work, and schools and even in our homes? It’s because of Sin… it’s that simple and people let it consume them and before they realize what is happening they can’t see anything good if it hit them square in the face!!

I am a very positive person! I’m not saying I don’t have rough days, that it’s hard to find the positive out of that situation and it might take awhile or even days to see anything good come out of it, but there will be something! Some people may think I am one of those people who is too positive and therefore I don’t live in reality. That is not true. I live a very real life with very real emotions. In fact I am a very emotional woman that sometimes it frustrates me. But this is who God created me to be. Someone who has a sensitive heart, because that is one characteristic of God, His sensitivity. He gave me this sensitiveness so I can be aware of what is going on around me. To see and feel someone who is hurting or who is in some type of emotional pain or loneliness. It’s very hard to see that, and to try to help them to think positively and know that God has a plan for their life. His word says in Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV) “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

The key to staying positive in a negative situation is realizing that we have an enemy that has everything to do with negativity, and his name is Satan. He would love nothing more to ruin your life and have you think you are not worthy of anything good. He is a deceiver, a destroyer, he manipulates every situation that he can, and with pride and accomplishment he is happy if he can destroy a marriage and a home, destroy a person’s self worth, destroy a friendship. Destruction is his goal and until we realize that our negative situation is from our enemy, we will be at battle for a long time.

So I ask you this, are you tired of fighting this overwhelming feeling of worthlessness? This black cloud you feel like it is always dark and gloomy? Then fight back with God on your side. Realize it’s not your situation that is getting you down, it is Satan trying to break you… realize it and tell yourself and God that you cannot do this yourself that you need His help, guidance, love, forgiveness, goodness, faithfulness. Tell God “Satan is kicking my butt right now,” and that you have had enough. Read scripture that is uplifting, out loud if you have too. Make a list of everything that is good in your life right now. You might say there is nothing, but there is. Maybe you are healthy, have a roof over your head, you have food to eat, you have a bed to sleep in, you have friends that love you and best of all you have God. “The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” Deuteronomy 31:8 (NIV) Hang in there God is with you and so am I.