I just read a book titled, “I Knew Their Hearts,” by Jeff Olsen. It is “the amazing true story of a journey beyond the veil to learn the silent language of the heart.”
I’ve been pondering his words and though there are so many messages that I could share (perhaps I will in future posts), today I will share this one.
The author, Jeff Olsen said,
“I saw purpose in every event of my entire life. I saw how every circumstance had been divinely provided for my learning and development…. That everything that had ever happened to me had been a loving step in that process of my progression.
“We always get to choose how we will experience what happens to us here.
“I could exercise my will in everything. God didn’t want me to hurt…. He was there assisting me to decide how I was going to experience it. He was providing me with the opportunity, in perfect love, to exercise my personal agency in this entire situation.”
This thought of choosing how I will experience my life has impressed itself upon me.
I remember when I was a young college student repeatedly thinking, “If I can just get through this trial or this difficult circumstance, then life will be good and I can be happy.” One of the many problems with that line of thinking is that, when that perfect, non-stressed filled life never occurred, I began to think there was something wrong with me! “What was I doing wrong?” and “Why couldn’t I make life work the way it was supposed to?”
It took me some time to realize that those challenges are part of the very reason we are here – to learn and grow and develop ourselves in the process of living. Hard times were not a punishment or even random acts of an unloving God, or even caused by God.
“Every circumstance had been divinely provided for my learning and development.” There is a greater plan and purpose for our existence and it is created out of love for each and every one of us!
I invite you to take some time and ponder on these thoughts and the circumstances in your life that have brought you to where you are now. Ask yourself, not why they happened, but rather, ask, how you will choose to experience your life?
Sending you much love!
