How many of you are in a great place in your life but everyone else around you isn’t?

How do you keep your flame burning when everyone else is blowing it out?

It can be tough when your path is going one way and others around you are going a different way or are not going anywhere at all.

I recently returned from a conference where everyone was filled with excitement, joy, motivation and just open to the possibilities and opportunities that life has to offer.

Everyone was filled with a sense of hope, the same kind of feeling you get when you’re in church, a sense of unity and excitement but then, I have to return to my 9-5 where everyone is defeated, negative, and have no hope whatsoever and I just want to run away!

Ever felt like this?

You’re mind starts saying, ‘Get me out of here!?’ or ‘I can’t stand this place!’ or ‘Why is everyone so negative?’ And it is so easy to let all of that negativity suck the life right out of you.

But I tell you, as always, God has his own way of bringing things back into perspective for me. Just when I’m feeling exactly this way, he hands me this scripture for the day:

Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversations be gracious and attractive so that you will have the right response for everyone. (Colossians 4:5-6)

Once again I am reminded, whether it is in my faith or my daily life that not everyone is going to feel the way I feel. Not everyone is going to have faith the way I do or will be as motivated as I am or is as excited about the future as me and instead of running away from it, I should be running towards it because God has obviously put me (and you) in the midst of it to be the light, or the inspiration, or the excitement, or whatever it may be that someone else may be needing.

Here I am complaining when I should be looking around for the opportunities that God has provided to me.

If you are in the same situation, take full advantage of the opportunities. Maybe someone needs to know about your faith, or needs to know about hope, or needs to get excited again about the future and you may be the one to provide it to them – you may have just the right response for them.

That’s why it’s so important to remain positive, to never gossip, and to always speak kind words (even on a bad day). There are enough people putting each other down so be the one to lift them up.

If you are filled with hope then fill up someone else, if you are filled with excitement then excite someone, if you are filled with inspiration then be an inspiration and if you are filled with the light of the Lord, let it shine!

Maybe you’re on the other end of it, maybe you are defeated, negative, or hopeless? It’s easy to shut out those people who are full happiness or excitement (I know, I’ve been there too) sometimes their brightness can be blinding but I encourage you to, instead of blocking the light, let it in. They may have something to offer, let them fill you up and before you know it you’re whole perspective will start to change.

I guess this was mainly for me to remember to take advantage of every opportunity, even when I don’t see it as such and when in doubt – talk it out…with God of course, he always knows what to say.

Thank you for stopping by and please share your experiences with us in the comments below.