Sitting still

Two weeks ago, I house sat for one of my friends for thirteen days.  They have a full Dstv package, where at home we only have certain channels, so I enjoyed watching all my favourite shows. I recorded them as well and watched them again later.  I had enough food and drink and if I needed something like bread or milk, I asked my mom to drop it off on her way home.

Basically, I turned into a couch potato.  I didn’t make any effort to go out to do any exercise and I used the stupidest excuse not to: ‘Its late and cold, I’m not going out’, while it was only three o’clock in the afternoon and the house itself was cold, not necessarily the weather.

Not being around people, I automatically started to focus on myself, and not in a good way!  Two of my friends asked me the other day: ‘So, did you start working somewhere?’  That question made me start doubting the future and my purpose in life.  I started pondering thoughts like: ‘Am I good enough to do what I was called to do?’ ‘Will I be able to do it?’ Most of all, I started doubting my God and his plan for my life.  It felt I was throwing my faith down the drain and I had a bad attitude towards GodBut whenever I did come out of the house, I saw that there was life around me.  I saw people laughing and enjoying each other’s company.

Stepping out of those circumstances gave me a new perspective on my own life.  It was like breathing fresh air, because I gained hope for myself.  I remembered that my life does matter and that God’s plan for me hasn’t changed and I am able to do what He had planned.

I want to encourage you:
When you have depressing thoughts and you start doubting God, get up out into another environment where you can see further than just yourself and your circumstances.  You will see there is much more life around you, and you would want to be part of it!

By Deon Labuschagne
Vista Happiness HELPS Ambassador