It was not being positive thinking that brought me through difficult times. It was listening and obeying God

Matthew 11:28-29, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”

Recently I have been receiving comments from friends and colleagues that I am a very positive thinking person. From our casual conversations, they were able to pick this up and feedback to me casually. Perhaps, I seldom complain and perhaps the way I see things could be different from the manner other people see. Nevertheless, as I ponder deeper upon their comments, I found that I was not really thinking positively most of the time. That was when God gave me a revelation on how the above scriptures applied to my experience although I have been reading them many times.

During the early years of my career, I was faced with numerous unfortunate events and persecutions of various degrees. Thoughts of giving up came. Thoughts of producing mediocre work came. Feelings of bitterness came. Feelings of pride came. In most times, I seek God for refuge and guidance through prayer and reading His word; and sought to do things His way. That is when I felt “labored and heavy laden” having to work against my flesh. I was not thinking positively. I was working against negative thoughts most of the time!

However each time I draw near to God for refuge as he said “Come to me ...” I start to hear words of instructions in my heart. Jesus is teaching me through my heart and I begin to “... learn from me Jesus.” Very often, Jesus will speak and teach you to respond to your adversaries or situations in a peaceful manner and with a humble attitude. This goes against my fleshly pride most of the time. Jesus walked humbly and He expects us to do so too. Hence He said “For I am gentle and lowly in heart.” In most cases, Jesus wants me to walk out of my bitterness and continue to submit to my superiors especially during times when I felt I knew better than them. I remembered there was once when I almost wanted to justify myself to my direct boss’s superior over a project that my boss was leading. Earlier in the day, I felt abandoned by my boss in some strategic meetings which made me appeared that I was not doing a good job. That night, I was complaining to my wife and was contemplating if I should talk to my boss’s superior to clear up some misunderstandings. My boss superior just joined the company and I do not want to start the working relationship with a bad impression.

I decided to talk to God about it that night and God changed my heart. What I did next was, I messaged my boss and apologized for not looking into the project more carefully. I explained that although he was leading the project, I should have worked as a team and go beyond his expectations to make sure all grounds were covered.

Immediately when I did that, there was a great sense of release. Prior to this, I was struggling and warring in my mind throughout the night with thoughts and imaginations of how I should complain to my boss’s superior and what to say and how to justify myself. However, this act of submission literally cut off all these non edifying thoughts. This is when Jesus says, “And you will find rest for your souls.” My soul (emotions and mind) found peace and rest. There was joy in me after that too.

God’s way is certainly easy and light; and always in our best interests. “For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Not easy but the reward is good.

Overtime, I found that I walked the most intimately with God through these experiences and spiritual maturity and character building follows after obedience. Praise God.

Anonymous