Making Lemonade

This is the day the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it.

Psalm 118:24 nkjv

Maybe you are familiar with this saying: When life gives you lemons, make lemonade. Pretty simple, but let’s take a deeper look. Lemons are in fact sour, tart and are often used sparingly in purest form. However, coupled with one or two other ingredients, lemons turn into a flavorful drink that can be used to quench thirst on a hot day. That same tartness can be blended with even more ingredients and we now have a dessert that wins the prize at the local fair. But at its core, a lemon is still the tart, cringe-worthy piece of fruit.

There are times when—as the saying goes—life give us lemons. We come face to face with challenges or periods of difficulty that seem to come out of nowhere and may seem endless. It can be easy to pour all our time and energy into trying to figure out how we got the lemon, why we got the lemon or what to do with the lemon. These questions are good, but at the end of the day, we still have the lemons.

Perhaps a better way to cope with the tartness of life is to embrace it. We can do this by looking around and seeing what we can do with that challenge or difficulty. Addressing some of the original questions about the lemons can show an opportunity to invest in relationships that have not always been a priority. Looking at ourselves could provide a good time to look at our diet and overall health.

We never know what life will bring us. And Jesus did say in John 16:33 that we will have trouble. But he also tells us to cheer up because he has already overcome any struggle that we may have. It’s a fact! And no one can make lemonade like Jesus.

Dwell on the beauty of life. Watch the stars, and see yourself running with them.

Marcus Aurelius

The essence of optimism is that it takes no account of the present, but it is a source of inspiration, of vitality and hope where others have resigned; it enables a man to hold his head high, to claim the future for himself and not to abandon it to his enemy.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Sometimes when you’re in a dark place you think you’ve been buried, but you’ve actually been planted.

Christine Caine

For Further Reflection

Philippians 4:12; Romans 8:25; Psalm 43:5

Today’s Prayer

God, I just want to thank you that with your help I can change my sadness into dancing. I know it doesn’t mean all is fixed but I do know that with you there is always a hope. Please help me to remember that. Amen.