One time, I heard about this wealthy man. He was known for being very eccentric and far out. One night, he was having a big party at his house. In his backyard, his swimming pool was filled with sharks and alligators. He announced to all the guests, “Anyone who will swim across my pool, I will give you anything that you want.” In a few minutes, there was a big splash. He looked over and this man was swimming 90 to nothing, dodging the alligator, maneuvering his way around the sharks as frantic as could be. He made it to the other side just in the nick of time and jumped out totally panicked. The wealthy man came over and said, “I can’t believe it. You’re the bravest person I’ve ever met. Now what do you want me to give you?” The man said, “What I want more than anything else is the name of the person that just pushed me in!” Here’s my point: Sometimes in life, it feels like we got “pushed in,” so to speak. We weren’t expecting the circumstances—a bad medical report, a relationship didn’t make it, a business went down. It may be a surprise to us, but it is not a surprise to God. If you do get pushed in, don’t sit around nursing your wounds. Do like this man. Just go for it! Just get to the other side! Do your best and keep honoring God. Keep doing what you know you’re supposed to do. God has already given you the strength, wisdom, favor and determination to not only make it through, but to come out better than you were before. Remember, that difficulty is not going to defeat you; it’s going to promote you. You can handle it! Take hold of His strength. Get up every morning and remind yourself, “I’m ready for and equal to anything that comes my way.” If you will do this, God promises He will infuse strength into you. I believe and declare you will overcome every obstacle, defeat every enemy, and become everything God has created you to be! “I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency].” Phil 4:13, AMP)
