What to do when life throws you lemons and you've never heard of lemonade?

Very often we hear that we cannot choose the tests and trials that life throws at us but we can choose how we react to them. We're even encouraged to do our best to "choose right." Tell that to a weightlifter who can carry a maximum weight of 50kg but gets thrown a weight of 5000kg to carry, or else. No matter his experience, dedication, passion and level of training, he cannot. Life does not consider weight, stature, resources or level of preparedness before throwing weights at anybody. You can't 'choose' how you react to a weight that is designed to crush you ten times over any more than Peter could have chosen to not deny Jesus when he was tempted beyond what he could bear.

The reason why we can "choose right" and why we are not committing particular sins is because we have not been tempted beyond what we can bear in those areas. If a big enough trial came our way and it was up to us to save ourselves, the best of us would fall woefully. Even unbreakable Titanium or Vibranium if it existed can be crushed into powder given the right amounts of weight and pressure. Bear in mind that we are not all gifted with the same strength so a weight that is crushing for you might be nothing to another. The potential to commit heinous crimes and to choose wrong is in everybody. God sees this potential and how favourable circumstances can make some people boast that they can choose right all by themselves and that some sins are beneath them.

Believer, this is how we get to overcome in times of testing, trials and temptations: 1 Corinthians 10:13.

"We all experience times of testing, which is normal for every human being. But God will be faithful to you. He will screen and filter the severity, nature, and timing of every test or trial you face so that you can bear it. And each test is an opportunity to trust Him more, for along with every trial God has provided for you a way of escape that will bring you out of it victoriously."

But many of us aren't aware of His work in our lives. We think we are experts at making lemonade and wonder why some people can't, even judge them for not being able to overcome "simple" temptations; simple for us but not so simple for them. I dislike 'Titus' fish and any kind of meat fat with a passion. I also can't manage large portions at meal times. Praising me for my dietary 'restraint' is pointless. Those are just not areas of temptation for me. But some people loooooove these things and their food portions look like it's meant for three. Replace meat fat/huge food portions with acts of sin and addictions. Without God's screening and filtering of each of our trials, we'd be wallowing in sins and failure.

When life throws you lemons, how to make lemonade when you've never even heard of it? Believer, the arm of flesh will fail. Don't lean on your own understanding. Trust in the Lord with all your heart and not in your own ability to choose how to react to the issues of life. See Proverbs 3:5:

5 "Trust in the Lord completely,

and do not rely on your own opinions.

With all your heart rely on Him to guide you,

and He will lead you in every decision you make."

See the TLB: 4-5 "If you want favor with both God and man, and a reputation for good judgment and common sense, then trust the Lord completely; don’t ever trust yourself. 6 In everything you do, put God first, and He will direct you and crown your efforts with success."

We cannot choose the tests and trials that life throws at us, "But God will be faithful to you. He will screen and filter the severity, nature, and timing of every test or trial you face so that you can bear it. And each test is an opportunity to trust Him more, for along with every trial God has provided for you a way of escape that will bring you out of it victoriously.".This is our life as believers in Christ.

Believe Right and you will Live Right