They said to Moses, “Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us to the desert to die?”—Exodus 14:11

Esi was distraught.

The biggest deal of her life was suddenly falling apart, and every effort to shore it up had failed. A courier dropped a letter on her doorstep—one more addition to a pile of mail on her desk! She tossed herself onto the couch and sobbed herself to sleep. Her expected early retirement and the world tour she had planned on cruise ships had collapsed.

One month later, Kantinka called to remind Esi about the Young Adult Ministry retreat coming up. She tried to talk her way out of it, but Kantinka prevailed over her—but under duress.

What a refreshing week that was! The fellowship at the Atia Retreat Center was overwhelming, and Esi could not believe the change in her mood. Was she the same person four days ago who could only see darkness and gloom in her future? Bathed in soulful prayers, the Lord lifted her in spirit, and she found hope again.

Back in the office, Esi cleared her desk. She opened an envelope marked urgent—the same letter from the courier she had failed to read a month ago. The message from her classmate and best friend from Kindergarten through high school broke her heart.

In Middle school, the students voted Esi as the school prefect over Aku, and she hated Esi for that—though they remained friends. Since then, Aku said she had done everything to sabotage Esi, including the deal that now threatened to collapse Esi’s business. She needed forgiveness from her friend.

The next train took Esi to the bedside of Aku. As the two friends locked themselves into a long embrace, their tears mixed up. Repentance and forgiveness flowed freely between them. Aku could not resist the power of Christ’s love, as Esi witnessed to her. Now they stood rejoicing in true fellowship as children of God in Christ.

That night, Aku went home to be with the Lord in glory.

What do you do when things do not go your way? Cain killed Abel (Gen. 4:1-8), and Joseph’s brothers sold him into slavery (37:28). The Israelites grumbled against Moses at the Red Sea (Ex. 14:10-12), Saul tried to kill David (1 Sam. 18:6-9), and the Jews persecuted Jesus (Jn. 5:16).

When things do not go your way, you can choose to complain to everybody, sabotage others, and eventually destroy yourself. However, you can choose to look to Jesus, knowing He works all things together for the good of those who love Him and seek His purpose in it (Rom. 8:28).

The choice is yours.