"Life is like a box of chocolates".... Or, is it?

Is life really like a box of chocolates? Do we not know what we are going to get? Or, do we?!

Last weekend I went away to the forest with a group of friends to stay in a log cabin. It was amazing. We were surrounded by beauty, sunshine, pine trees, owls twit twooing and we had a fridge full of yummy food, not to mention a bubbly hot tub on the decking! It was a tranquil place. 

After lots of forest walks, way too much time in the hot tub and copious amounts of food to eat, we found ourselves watching the movie "Forest Gump". I guess it seemed kind of fitting as we were in the forest! lol. Anyway, I always smile when I hear that famous quote in the movie when Forest recalls, "Mama said, life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you're going to get". It's true, life has this way of surprising us, sometimes in good ways and sometimes in bad ways. None of us know what the future holds, it is often uncertain. The wonderful thing, when we serve God, is that we know His plans for us are good and not for harm (Jeremiah 29:11), and we know that whatever we go through in life, He is always with us (Deuteronomy 31:8).

I began to think about the box of chocolates. The thing is, I am a complete chocoholic!! I love chocolate with a passion. And as far as I'm concerned, chocolate is one of God's great gifts to the earth, and I intend to enjoy it (the funny thing is I've just gone a whole month without chocolate for sugar free September, but now that's over, I'm ready to enjoy the delicious gift, that is CHOCOLATE!). I love chocolate so much, and am a well experienced chocolate consumer, that when someone offers me a box of chocolates, it doesn't take me too long to scan the box and know what is in the centre of each. I can spot the orange creams a mile off, they are only to be consumed in desperate times, like if they are the only ones in the box and you really need some chocolate. The Turkish delight are usually a square shape and the praline are normally in the shape of coffee bean, the nut ones are a complete give away as there is quite often roasted hazelnuts on the outside. All this talking about chocolate is making my mouth water right now, is anyone with me? ;)

So is life really like a box of chocolates? Do we honestly not know what we are going to get? Or do we?

Well, I know from my (short) life on the earth that some things come out of the blue, a shock, a 'I didn't see that one coming' moment, a 'I never would have believed that would ever happen' feeling. It's true, life is uncertain, and often unfair and sickness, disaster and trauma can come like a thief in the night, you may be tucked in bed safe and secure, then BAM! You're in the biggest storm of your life!

The Bible tells us that "What you sow you reap". I have known this to be soooo true in my life. You see, I know that whatever this life, this crazy world we live in throws at me, I know I can face anything, because I have a God who loves me, is with me and He is for me. I know where my roots are, I know who I am, I know whose I am, I know where I'm heading, and I know that NOTHING that I face will shake me, or move me, or cause me to be broken. How do I know all that? Well, I have a personal relationship with the Creator of the Heavens and the Earth. My God walks beside me every day. He comforts me when I am sad, He shows me which path to take when I need to make a decision, He is with me when I feel alone, He gives me strength when I feel weak, He heals me when I am sick, He causes me to rise up in victory when others try to destroy me, He pours His favour upon me when I do the right thing. When I sow goodness, I reap a harvest of goodness. When I sow love, I reap love. When I sow friendship, I reap friendship. When I walk out my days for Him, when I walk in righteousness, integrity, truth and humility, when I live a pure and righteous life, when I do the right thing (even when the wrong thing is happening), I live free, and I live whole, and I live secure. You see, bad stuff may still happen, storms may come out of the blue, but if we are walking blameless before our God, we can be sure what's coming, and, what we are going to get! Freedom is ours, victory is ours, hope is ours, favour is ours, peace is ours, strength is ours, joy is ours, justice is ours.

Although we may not know what we are going to get in life, we can know what we are going to get with God in it. You really can face anything the world throws at you, and come through strong, when you walk with Him each day of your life.

In life there are so many things beyond our control. But also, there are so many things in our control. We can choose joy, despite the sorrow. We can control what comes out of our mouth, when we may want to say something bad. we can choose how we spend our money. We can choose how we spend our time, or, how we waste our time. We can choose who to be friends with, and who not to be. We can choose our attitude, good or bad. we can choose to love, choose to give, choose to serve, choose to believe. 

I'm not afraid of tomorrow, because I know that as I keep choosing to live a life of integrity, I will reap blessing, even in the midst of troubled times. I know that I will not be shaken, because my life is rooted in the unshakeable Word of God. Life is like a box of chocolates, but I DO know what I'm going to get, because, when you have a rock solid assurance of the power and presence of God in your life, NOTHING that comes to destroy you will stand, and you will reap a harvest of blessing, even in the seasons of shock and sorrow.

My prayer is that we wouldn't be afraid of the future, but that we would walk tall with our Creator, knowing that He holds our days in His hands and He is with us and for us and leading us on to victory!! :-)