Now more than ever, I have an aversion to the saying, "When life gives you lemons, make lemonade."  

Life has been giving far too many lemons lately.  

Lemons come in the form of financial, physical, emotional, and spiritual disappointments. In one way or another, we have all had to rewrite our days during this time of social distancing. Weddings, anniversaries, and birthday celebrations have been canceled. Vacations, spring break, school, prom, and graduations have been deleted from our calendars. I don't know about you, but I am tired of squeezing and drinking lemonade.   

Disappointment leads to frustration, and we are oftentimes tempted to take it out on those closest to us. You are not alone in this!!!

When Jesus was here on earth, He felt a LOT of these feelings.  John 11:35 says, “Jesus wept.” He was sad about the loss of a friend, and he cried.  

In Matthew 26, Jesus told his disciples that his soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. He then fell with his face to the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me." Jesus made a conscious choice to talk to God the Father about his feelings ---the lemons he was given. He prayed! “Yet not as I will, but as you will.” Jesus knew that no matter how He felt, God was in control, and God knew what was best.  

We can choose to take our feelings of disappointment, anger, and frustration out on other people, or we can choose to take it to God. Jesus submitted his feelings to God. He trusted that God would help him through the situation and would be there for him each step of the way. We can choose to do the same.

Let Us Pray!

Loving God, we are faced with a lot of disappointments lately, which leaves us overwhelmed with sorrow. We are trusting today that you are in control, so as Jesus prayed in his time of frustration, hear these words as ours; "if it is possible, may this cup be taken from us. Yet not as I will, but as you will.’ Thank you for caring about how we feel. Help us not to feel so disappointed but to focus on all the good and wonderful things that surround us. Thank you for taking care of us and loving us. Amen

Whatever It Takes,

Ontonio Christie