SEARCHING FOR THE GOOD ONES

“My suffering was good for me, for it taught me to pay attention to your decrees.” (Psalms 119:71 NLT)

Don’t let the title of this meditation mislead you. This is not about searching for one of the few good men or good women that are so hard to find. This is not about finding a good deal or a good dining place. It is not about a so-called sure way to lose weight or ways to gain weight. It is not even about finding a good church, although I advise that you do, if you don’t have one.

This meditation deals with the psychological effects that are stirred up by the places, the phases of life, or the periodic memories that invade your mind and serve as emotional triggers that can cause you to be disappointed with self, deflated emotionally, or even dejected and depressed. All of us, including you, will encounter emotional triggers. or if you prefer to call them by another label, emotional stimuli.

Many times, the triggers or stimuli cause us to focus on things that we would rather forget; things we have suppressed but they are brought to the surface. When that happens, if we make no effort to counter them, these triggers or stimuli will bring us down. This is not an advice column, but I do have a recommendation for you. Here it is! When you encounter emotional triggers that cause you to focus on the bad or the negative, search for the good and the positive,

For example, if a location reminds you of hard times, instead of feeling sad, search for the good ones; the good things that happened during the bad times. For instance, think of how the Lord sustained you through the bad times.  Think of how the Lord showed you a better way during the hard times.  Focus on how you learned something you can use to circumvent similar hard times that you will face in the future because of emotional triggers or stimuli.

Do you need another example? Okay, how about one more. Let’s look at how the stimuli comes in your dreams. You have a bad dream about something in the past. Even though it is located where it should be, in the past, if you are not careful, you will experience some negative emotional impulses when you awaken. If that happens, think about how the bad ended up working out for good, and how God gave you a new beginning. Search in your treasures of memories and dig out the good ones; dig out what you not only learned from the bad situation, but how you were changed for good by the situation. And then, thank the Lord for His help. That too should benefit you, for you will continue to meditate on the truth that the Lord is your Helper, your Keeper, your Protector, and your Provider.

I’m not sure if I made my point, so let me try to get across my recommendation in a more concise way. When you encounter places, people, predicaments, or even particular days that produce emotional triggers or emotional stimuli that is negative, stop focusing on the bad memories. Search for the good ones,

I hope I helped at least one reader today. Have a great day! Be blessed!

“Never regret a day in your life, good days give happiness, bad days give experience, worst days give lessons, and best days give memories.” (Anonymous Quote)

Committed to the climb,

Mark L. King