Of Lemons and Lemonade

We’ve all heard the saying “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade!” haven’t we? But what does it take to really make lemonade? It’s not just lemons and water. It also takes sugar or some other sweetener.

If you think that when you become a Christian all your troubles are over, you are sadly mistaken. Jesus said that in this world we will have troubles. But don’t stop there! It goes on to say to be of good cheer because He has overcome the world! The Amplified Classic version of John 16:33 at the end says “For I have overcome the world. [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.]“ I’m not going to get in a discussion as to why bad things happen to good people (but basically because there is a devil in this world trying his best to trip us up at every opportunity), but I want to think about the fact that we don’t have to be trapped in trouble. God always provides a way out!

Yes, so called lemons will head our way. We can try to bear up under them thinking we are doing the Christian thing, but really all we’ve made from those lemons is lemon water. Now lemon water can be enjoyable, but lemonade is so much sweeter! On a hot day, some nice cold lemonade is ahh, so delicious!

Remember though, to make lemonade, we need to add something sweet. There is nothing sweeter than God’s Word. We must look at the troubles that come our way through the lens of God’s Word. Then they won’t overcome us. We’ll see that He has made us more than conquerors, that He is with us wherever we go, that He is working in us, through us, and for us. Add that sweetener in and you get lemonade! You get the ability to stand even when it is tough. You get the patience needed to make your faith work in that situation. You get God’s beautiful peace in the middle of the storm because you know that God’s got this! Even when it’s tough. God’s got this. God’s got you!