Casandra Martin

If you read the newspaper or watch the news, it only takes a glance to realize that the world is filled with bad news.  It is easy to get depressed or discouraged as the media gives us a front row seat to the scary, horrible things happening all around us.

There is an old saying that says, “What happens in you is more important than what happens to you.” It is a reminder of a truth that often gets lost as life’s circumstances threaten to overwhelm us. The news is a report of what is happening around us. We talk to our friends about what happened during our day. Happiness is a byproduct of whether we’ve had a good day or a bad day. Rejoicing, on the other hand, focuses on the way that God is working in us as we move through our circumstances. The transformation that results from keeping your eyes on Him no matter what is the fuel for our joy. We can choose to worry about what is happening to us or we can choose to praise God for how He is working in us. Choosing joy celebrates how God is changing our hearts one moment at a time.

My Jesus Resolution today is to make a good news report. God is at work all around me. His grace has the power to seep into even the darkest places, providing light and hope. As I walk in my day, I want to make a note of the positive things that I see. I am going to pay attention to kindness, be awestruck by beauty, and celebrate someone lending a helping hand. There is bad in this world. But take heart, Jesus has overcome the world!