I was really challenged by the devotional I read this morning to ask myself this question: Am I living above my circumstances? (When I am honest with myself, the answer most days is probably not.) The phrase “living above your circumstances” is one of those phrases that sounds REALLY good, but we don’t really understand what it means, how to get there, or if it’s even possible.
Let me say this, I do believe that it is possible to live in this fashion, and not only possible, but I also believe if we’re not living above our circumstances then we are not living the way God intended us to.
So what does it mean to live above your circumstances? It means to not be controlled and affected by all of the external stimuli around you. It means that your outlook on life is not set by how difficult or bad your life appears to be going. It also means that your actions do not flow from discouragement, pain or confusion.
In this life we are guaranteed difficulties, trials and hardships. We live in a sinful, fallen world. There is not a single human being who has lived a life free from difficulties. Not even Jesus Christ when He came to earth as a man experienced a hardship-free existence. Thus, it could be very easy to become worried or depressed while pondering our future. UNLESS we are setting ourselves up to live above the future circumstances of life.
This leads us to the question of how do we get there?
To answer this, let’s look at the opposite. When I find myself getting discouraged, depressed, worried, or feeling drug down into the trenches of life, it is usually because I am looking at what I can see and allowing my emotions and opinion of life to be formed by my current understanding of the situation. (That was quite the sentence why don’t you go back and read it again.) Thus when we lose our job unexpectedly, experience a life-changing injury or are gripped by an addiction, we tend to allow our outlook on life to be set upon the pain we are experiencing in that moment. This means that in order to maintain a positive outlook on life, we can’t allow our current understanding or perspective to be our starting point.
Our starting point must be something unchanging, something greater than circumstance… our starting point is a confidence in the sovereignty and undying love of God. This kind of confidences makes its possible to “trust the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding, but in all of your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight” (Proversb 3:5-6). That verse, my friends, is a picture of living above your circumstances!
Absolute, complete and utter trust is what makes living above your circumstances possible!
Most of us have flown in an airplane before. Have you ever taken off when it was raining and cloudy and miserable outside? My favorite part is when you feel the airplane smooth out as the wheels leave the runway, you’re climbing up and up as the rain streaks across the window, it takes just a few seconds, then all of a sudden the clouds begin to lighten and BAM! The warmth of bright sunshine hits your face through the same window that just had raindrops streaming across it seconds ago! I find it so encouraging, and I always find myself feeling bad for all the other people still on the ground back there. 🙂
I think this is a perfect picture of what living above our circumstances looks like. Trust is the airplane that carries us through the storm and gives us the ability to have a much better outlook and perspective on life. The storm is still going on down there, but the different perspective allows our actions to flow from a heart at peace.
On the contrary, if we had “missed the plane” and were left to “drive” through life, we’d be left blinded by the pouring rain, hindered by the slippery winding roads, and easily depressed by the dark clouds looming above us.
Where do you find yourself today? Are you struggling to navigate the twisting, treacherous roads of everyday life? Or are you standing on a trust that has carried you through the dark clouds to a place “above your circumstances” of peaceful perspective?
–Amanda
(Related scripture: John 14:1; 2 Timothy 4:18)
3 Comments
I love how you are able to put your thoughts into words! Go, Mandy!! This morning, David and I were out walking our 3-1/2 miles in the wind and sleet – actually loving it. We were reminded of walking at the track with our kids running by at their own pace. We are alone now, but still “running our race” because of Jesus Christ above the clouds 🙂
I have to tell you, I used this particular blog, living above your circumstances, to speak to the ladies last weekend at the women’s retreat. It spoke volumes to them and was just what the Holy Spirit had been speaking to us all weekend. It was perfect. God is defimtiely using you and this gift. Thank you for being obedient to Him and for being willing to step out in faith on this crazy ride. Love you girl, proud of where you are going and happy to be following you through it!
Becca, thank you SO much for your encouragement. Praise the Lord! Only our God can time things like that! 🙂 I am humbled that God is using this venture in other’s lives so soon after it’s birth. I really appreciate your support!