I don’t know what you’re facing today. But I do know it’s something. Maybe it’s big and feels overwhelming. Maybe it’s not so big, but there seems to be no end in sight and it’s wearing you down.

Robyn was diagnosed with leukemia 81 days ago. According to the protocol for treating the type she has, we have about 180 more days to go. Either the intravenous or oral drugs are almost daily. The PICC line in her left arm was inserted on January 11th. She’ll have it for six more months.

Maybe you’re facing a medical issue of your own. Or it’s someone close to you.

You may be facing a financial crisis. Or you’re trying to figure out how you’re going to pay your tax bill next month, like me.

Or you’re dealing with a strained or broken relationship. Or someone around you is hurting and there’s nothing you can do.

You could be dealing with any number of stressful situations. I know I am.

And if you’re like me, you’ve prayed and prayed some more and done your best to fix things or find a way through, around or out of the circumstances you’re in.

And yet, you’re still in them.

Our natural tendency is to focus on what we see and feel and become discouraged or angry or fearful or worried or anxious or some combination. Our peace of mind is fleeting. Real joy eludes us.

When your back is against the wall, when there’s nowhere else to turn, just when it seems all hope is lost…you’re in good company. Abraham was there. Sarah was there. So was Rachel. And Joseph. And Moses and David and Daniel. Also Peter, Philip, Mary, Martha, Lazarus, the blind man, the lame man, the deaf man and the woman who’d been bleeding for twelve years. And all twelve disciples caught in the storm. And let’s not forget the apostle Paul.

I was asked recently if I thought God gives us more than we can handle. I think the answer is “yes.” And life in general can also throw at us more than we can handle. At least handle well. Almost anyone can endure hard or painful circumstances. The issue is how well we handle them. Do we experience peace and joy? Or do we grumble, complain and blame God for it all?

No matter what you and I face today, here’s the really good news…

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. (Ephesians 3:20-21)

God is able. And He is ready to do so much more than we may have thought. But here’s the key…it’s according to His power that is at work within us. In other words, we must cooperate with Him. And cooperation begins with believing Him.

And believing Him means we must choose to stop focusing on the circumstances and start focusing on Him. If I view God through the lens of my circumstances, He will look far away, unconcerned and uncaring. But if I will saturate my mind with His word and view my circumstances through His eyes, then everything begins to change.

We can’t always choose our circumstances, but we can choose how we view them. We can let them rob our joy and come between us and God. Or we can let them press us to Him and experience what only He can do.

It’s our choice.