What’s Your Word?

No matter what we are facing in life – either good or bad – inevitably, one facet takes precedence in our minds. Being on a trip, our word might be “fun” or “relaxed”, for example. In our young parenting days, “tired” might be the reigning concept.

The trials in our lives tend to boil down to one word also. It is around this pivotal point that we focus our energies and that reaches out to every other aspect of our lives. This main irritation/challenge/problem, works its way through our lives, impacting our thoughts and actions.

What is your word? Cancer? Isolation? Fear? Unemployment? Grief? …

My current word is “frustration”. I find this feeling permeating everything in my life lately. My job challenges seep into my home life as the problems of the day weigh heavily upon me. It affects my mood as I prepare to drive each day to work in snowy road conditions. This word nags me as I go to prepare food and there is more on the list that I can’t eat than what I can. It’s pandemic issues that have kept me from physical closeness to my loved ones. The list goes on and on.

Frustration breeds more frustration. It colours my outlook. When I am frustrated, it is so easy to take whatever comes and treat it the same way. It breeds a cycle of discontent and hurt that doesn’t need to be there. It festers and grows, like mold on old yogurt. I find it hard to stop once it gets its momentum.

It was no different when my word this summer was “cancer”. My conversations and thoughts centered around this horrible disease. It crept into my planning and into most day-to-day activities. It hovered over me like a dark cloud. My brain couldn’t even make proper decisions. Everything in my life was affected by it.

So, what do we do when one aspect of our lives seems to take hold and we lose perspective? It’s time to turn to God’s Word – the best place to get a reality check.

The Apostle Paul easily could have focused on some challenging words – incarceration, suffering, loneliness, pain, for a few. Yet he did not. The words he shares through Scripture are filled with a better way to look at life. Paul challenges us again and again to look to Christ who is our sure and certain hope. In Paul’s mind, there is no other way, no other path to a rich, fulfilled life, even amidst the sufferings and trials we face.

Here are some of Paul’s suggestions of alternate words to bring about a change in our lives:

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 15:13 NIV)

“Be joyful always.” (1 Thessalonians 5:16 NIV)

“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace.” (Colossians 3:15 NIV)

“But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen and protect you from the evil one.” (2 Thessalonians 3:3 NIV)

“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” (Romans 12:2a NIV)

I challenge you today to find a new positive word on which to focus. Mine is “hope”. Not only does that encompass hope in Christ for eternal salvation, but it reflects my feelings for life in this world at this time. Hope outweighs frustration and gives me a framework to base my days on that is positive and uplifting.

If I can fight each frustration with the hope that only Christ can give, I have a much more fulfilling life. It’s a big turnaround and not one that I can accomplish myself. The Holy Spirit working in me is the only way true change will occur.

What’s your word? May it be a Christ-centered one that uplifts and fulfills.

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