As you might imagine I get hundreds, (and sometimes even thousands), of letters each week. I received an inordinate amount of response both pro and con about my “Temptation dream” entry and the subsequent “Angry bee” WFTD.
I received one e-mail from someone who is currently facing big challenges. He stated that he was working towards changing his life in an effort to find peace. I want to relate some of what he said because I think that this person is onto something that could prove helpful to all of us.
“Since reading your book I have subscribed to your daily WFTD and have found it to be helpful as well. Yesterday’s message about your dream related to what I’ve experienced and I’ve found it to be once again helpful; especially since I was feeling bad about myself.
I couldn’t sleep and decided to watch some TV. As I flipped through the channels I came across some soft-porn movies. In most cases I would have stopped to watch one, but as I mentioned, I’m trying to turn my life around and so I didn’t stop to watch one and settled on a regular movie.
However after the movie, I decided to catch up on my emails especially your WFTD message which I didn’t read that morning. That’s when I read about your dream. It made me think about my experience and the movies. Your message rang true to me because I decided not to watch those movies, even though I briefly paused on one, thought about it, then moved on.
Reading your WFTD made me realize that I made the right choice and I felt good about my decision. Instead of beating myself up about it and feeling like there was no hope in turning my life around because I couldn’t even handle a small challenge much less handle the big challenges that I’m going through.
Small and large challenges are present every day. It’s hard to believe that your critics don’t face them. Keep your WFTD message true and realistic so that people like me can relate to them.”
I wrote this man back and told him that I felt God was personally encouraging him with that message. I reminded him that he can do all things through God who strengthens him. His reply was right on spot. He said in part:
I’ve been praying a lot these past weeks; more so since reading your book. At times prior to reading your book, I’ve asked GOD why he hasn’t answered my prayers. Why don’t I feel anything other than doubt after I’ve prayed? Why aren’t things turning around in my life…I’ve been a good person all my life…why has all this bad stuff happened to me? And on, and on, and on…
Then I read your WFTD about the lady who kept whining about everything. Similar to the way I was. The message that I took away from that WFTD…”Stop whining, I’m not GOD’s center of the universe; GOD should be the center of my universe; GOD is listening and waiting for me to stop the whining, roll up my sleeves and put in the effort to turn my life around. The place I’m currently in may take more effort than what I’ve previously had to put into it to be successful and live a good life and at peace. This time it may take 110, 115 or 120%. However, once I do focus on that effort HE will answer my prayers.”
So with that mindset along with my battle cry “I can do anything through Christ, He strengthens me”, I started the week. In addition, instead of just saying my morning prayer in my bedroom asking for HIS help by whining, I went to my local church and celebrated the liturgy before heading into work. Feeling more confident I went about my business through the week and several times during the day I would say, “I can do anything through Christ/GOD, He strengthens me.”
Then today after I got out of work on my way home I read your response which as I said at the beginning of this email left me impressed, pleasantly surprised but more importantly and for the lack of a better word “dumbfounded”. Impressed because I received a response to an email that I sent on a whim to what I consider a very successful business person who moves in circles that I could only dream of. Pleasantly surprised that the person that you are and I’m sure extremely busy you took the time to respond to a total stranger. Dumbfounded because as I was driving home I kept thinking why? For all the reasons mentioned, why would you respond?
Then I felt a weird, queasy feeling deep down in my stomach. Is GOD sending me a message through a total stranger that turned his life around? As I kept driving and thinking about it…how is it that I came to find out about your book on the internet. Let alone why did I buy it? On top of that, with all the issues I’m going through take the time to read through your book in a couple of days? Subscribe to WFTD and relate to it. Too freakin coincidental!!!
GOD does listen and is listening…I can do all things through Christ, He strengthens me.
Turning My Life Around Through CHRIST One Day at a Time.
I am humbled by this man’s keen assessment and his understanding of God working in his life is far more eloquent than I could ever hope to muster. The key takeaways I come away with from this man’s struggle and progress towards finding his peace is as follows:
- Small and large challenges are present every day for all of us
- Making the right choices in life should not only include, but perhaps begin, with making the effort to conquer the “little” sins in our lives
- Conquering small challenges gives us the necessary confidence that we can win the larger battles that are sure to come
- We must do our part and not rely solely on God alone to solve our problems for us
- We must realize it is He that is the center of the universe that He created, and it is His purpose that we should try to fulfill, (which may not necessarily synch up with our own ideas)
- When we make an effort we should realize that God is listening to us and watching over us every second of every day and be reassured by that– We are not alone and don’t have to face challenges alone, He will strengthen us for any challenge
- When we see God working in our lives to help us, we should acknowledge His presence, praise His Holy name and thank Him for all that He does
I hope each and every one of you has a great weekend. And go to church this weekend!
Matt. 28:20
“and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”