Defined By Circumstances

 cir·cum·stance

noun\ˈsər-k^əm-ˌstan(t)s, -stən(t)s\

: a condition or fact that affects a situation

circumstances : the way something happens : the specific details of an event

: an event or situation that you cannot control

Circumstances are the conditions we find ourselves in at any given time.  It's the time, place, or situation.

Circumstances do not define who we are. Let me repeat myself.  Circumstance DO NOT define who we are.

And we don't have to allow them to determine what we do or how we act.

Having a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day?  We all do. Maybe it's even a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad week.  Or year.  It happens.

But that is not who you are.  You can't let it determine how you live your life or how you treat others.

People may have hurt you.  You don't have to be hurtful towards others.

The skies may be gray.  You don't have to be full of gloom and doom.

You may be surrounded by turmoil.  You don't have to seek out or start drama. 

Circumstances change all the time.  Constantly.  If you allow who you are to be ruled by them, you will be as unpredictable as the weather.

So, when life gets messy - remind yourself that you are not a mess.  It's your circumstances that seem hopeless.  You are not hopeless.

You have the power to rise above your circumstances. You can move past what has happened to you, or the mess you created for yourself, or what you have done and be the person God created you to be.

Raise you head up.  Hold tight to the one constant in life - God and His unfailing love and promises.  Remind yourself who you are.  You are his child.  You are loved.

And His love can see you through even the worst circumstances life has to offer.