Do you feel like you’ve been going through bad stuff?

Are you convinced that you shouldn’t have to deal with the mess you’re dealing with?

What you’re facing at the moment may stink . . . but that doesn’t necessarily change the circumstances.

One of my favorite motivational stories was first told by President Ronald Reagan.

The story concerns twin boys around six.  Each of the boys had developed extreme personalities that worried their parents.  One was a total optimist . . .happy, giggling all the time. . .while the other twin was a total pessimist, crying and whining about everything.

The parents were so concerned about the difference personalities in the twins they took them to a psychiatrist.

First, the psychiatrist treated the pessimist. Trying to brighten his outlook, the psychiatrist took him to a room piled to the ceiling with brand-new toys. But instead of yelping with delight, the little boy burst into tears. "What's the matter?" the psychiatrist asked, baffled by his response. "Don't you want to play with any of the toys?" "Yes," the little boy bawled, "but I'll only break them or somebody may come take them away."

Next, the psychiatrist treated the optimist. Trying to dampen his outlook, the psychiatrist took him to a room piled to the ceiling with horse manure. But instead of wrinkling his nose in disgust, the optimist shouted with delight.  Then the little boy climbed to the top of the pile, dropped to his knees, and began gleefully digging out scoop after scoop of manure with his bare hands.

"What do you think you're doing?" the psychiatrist asked, just as baffled by the optimist as he had been by the pessimist. "With all this manure," the little boy replied, beaming, "there must be a pony in here somewhere!"

After that … when things started to go south , either Bev or I would say, “Honey, there’s a pony in here somewhere.”

Here are seven things you should know when looking for 'your pony.'

First, YOU choose your outlook.

Your inward disposition will always determine your outward outlook.

Say that again.

Your inward disposition will always determine your outward outlook.

That is why you must be grounded in God's Word. You cannot let what’s happening around you affect what’s living in you.

I’m going to say that again because I want to make sure you got what I just said.

You cannot let what’s happening around you affect what’s living in you.

Regardless of the adversity. . .no matter how messy, stinky or seemingly hopeless your situation may be. . .your answer lies in your outlook.

One of my favorite quotes by “Anonymous” says:

“Is the glass half full, or half empty?  It depends on whether you’re pouring or drinking.”

It’s like asking if we’re in a recession or a depression.  If you’ve lost your job, it’s only a recession to me.  But, if I’ve lost my job, well, that’s a depression!  Perspective is based on your experience, not someone else’s.

What should our perspective be? 

What does the Word say about about it? 

Colossians 3:1 in the Message Bible says:

“[He Is Your Life ] So if you're serious about living this new resurrection life with Christ, act like it. Pursue the things over which Christ presides. Don't shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. Look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ—that's where the action is. See things from his perspective.”

When we see things from His perspective. . .we endure everything for the joy that is set before us.

Hebrews 12:2 in the Amplified Bible says:

“Looking away [from all that will distract] to Jesus, Who is the Leader and the Source of our faith [giving the first incentive for our belief] and is also its Finisher [bringing it to maturity and perfection]. He, for the joy [of obtaining the prize] that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising and ignoring the shame, and is now seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”

Jesus endured the shame. . .the mess of this world. . .because of what He knew He must accomplish. . .the vision within Him.

You may be shoveling your way through a mess. . .but your outlook. . .your perspective on everything you’re facing should never to subject to or formed by what’s happening around you.

Our outlook needs to be determined by the Greater One who is within us.

1 John 4:4 says:

“Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.”

Second, don’t let somebody else’s mess affect your outlook.

My circle of friends “use to” include people who liked to commiserate . . .people who wanted to hash and rehash the mess they were in.  But my circle of friends and mentors doesn’t include those kind of folk any more.

Toxic talk and attitudes are contagious and infectious.

Never hang around with people who like to criticize, complain and seek out fellow commiseraters . . .because they will adversely affect your outlook and future.

If you’ve been laid off from your job . . . don’t hang out with other folks who’ve been laid off as well.  It’s too easy to begin commiserating about how unfairly you were treated.

It’s too easy to rehearse your hurts. . .relive your frustration or anger. . .talking yourself into thinking things are worse than they are.  It is wasted energy that needs to be put toward making things better.

At one of my debt-free meetings I remember hearing two people sharing stories about how they each evaded the men seeking to repossess their cars. 

If you spend your time talking with negative folks about negative events…no surprise. . . it’s only reasonable that you’re going to find yourself becoming more and more negative.

The dominant thoughts in your life will draw similar thoughts to them like a strong magnet.

If you dwell on past hurts, failures, broken relationships and financial mistakes, then you’re doomed to repeat them.

Isaiah 43:18 in the Message Bible says:

“Forget about what’s happened: don’t keep going over old history.”

Here’s a fact. . .God can’t do a new thing in your life as long as your hanging out  in the past.

Don’t commiserate about what happened. . .instead plan for what’s going to happen.

Only hang around those folks who will speak the pure, the powerful and the positive from the Word of God into your life (Philippians 4:8)) . .otherwise you’ll end up only dealing with the messes of life.

Third, you’ll have to walk through the mess you’ve made to get to the other side.

Here’s a reality. . .if you’ve created a mess in your life.  Here are four things you need to get through it.

First, acknowledge that you've messed up.

If you’re alive on planet earth. . .you’ve messed up.  For some it’s more of a habit than others but no one's exempt from making them.

Romans 3:23 says:

“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.”

Bottom line, we have all sinned and messed up at one time or another.

Second, fess up to it.

You cannot live in DENIAL.  I have an acronym:

Don’t

Even

Know

I

Am

Lying (to myself)

“Confession is good for the soul” is more than just an old saying. . .it’s a spiritual truth & a scriptural directive when you're walking with God. It’s the only way to get clean.

1 John 1:9 says:

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Third, get up.

If you’ve been forgiven. . .you’re just that. . .forgiven. . .so it’s time to get up and leave the past behind. There’s nothing wrong with being down and out and wrong as long as you want to get up, right and in.

In getting up. . .it’s critically important that we keep your thoughts focused on Him. 

Psalm 139:2 in the New Century Version says:

“You know when I sit down and when I get up. You know my thoughts before I think them.”

Fourth, let’s move on.

Exodus 14:15 in The Living Bible says:

“Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘Quit praying and get the people moving! Forward, march!’”

Now, let’s cover the next reason there 'has to be a pony in here somewhere.'

Fourth, sometimes you have to step over or around the mess.

There are times in our lives when we need to let something or someone go. . .we need to step over the mess in our lives. . .to move on in our journey to success. 

This can be a rough process if you care for someone who doesn’t care for you or someone you care about has deeply hurt you. But the truth of the matter is this: you cannot control what other people do but you can control what you do. 

We must step out and over certain situations . . . adversaries who want to hold us back from fulfilling God’s destiny for our lives.  Our trust must be in Him and His Word.

Psalm 119:133 in the New Living Translation says:

“Guide my steps by your word, so I will not be overcome by evil.”

Have you ever been in a parade?  Perhaps you were a member of a marching band or walked alongside a float.

Marching in a parade can be challenging if you’re following horses that have relieved themselves in a rather indiscriminate fashion.

You have to be vigilant to step over or around the residue of their presence.  Is that a nice way of saying. . .that sometimes you just have to step over or avoid the manure in life?

There are times when we’ve made a mess in our lives. . .and we just need to keep focused on Him and watch our steps in the future .

Proverbs 4:23 in the Message Bible says:

“Keep vigilant watch over your heart; that's where life starts. Don't talk out of both sides of your mouth; avoid careless banter, white lies, and gossip. Keep your eyes straight ahead; ignore all sideshow distractions. Watch your step, and the road will stretch out smooth before you. Look neither right nor left; leave evil in the dust.”

Fifth, you have to give yourself a spiritual pep talk.

Did you ever attend a pep rally in high school or college. . .where the sole purpose of the cheerleaders or pep squad was to motivate your team spirit?  The number one purpose of a pep rally is to get you involved even though you’ll be sitting in the bleachers during the big game.

In the big event of life . . .you’re not sitting in the bleachers or standing on the sidelines, my friend, you are the game and you need to be your most important cheerleader or pep squad team member.

In life there will be times when there’s no one around except. . .you and the Lord.  As a result you must become your greatest fan. . .your own pep squad leader.  It will be your responsibility to encourage yourself. . .but you will have help. 

First, Deuteronomy 3:28 says:

“But charge Joshua, and encourage him, and strengthen him: for he shall go over before this people, and he shall cause them to inherit the land which thou shalt see.”

If allowed, God will strengthen, encourage and motivate you to even greater levels of accomplishment.  But in the final analysis. . .you must be responsible for your own encouragement. 

Second, 1 Samuel 30:6 in the Amplified Bible says:

“David was greatly distressed, for the men spoke of stoning him because the souls of them all were bitterly grieved, each man for his sons and daughters. But David encouraged and strengthened himself in the Lord his God.”

How do you encourage or give yourself a spiritual pep talk?  Use the Word of God to motivate you from where you are. . .to where God wants you to be.  When you don’t feel like it … is often when you need it the most.

Remember, He knows who you are from the inside out and is still rooting for you to make it!

Sixth, you gotta roll up your sleeves and do whatever is necessary.

Sir Winston Churchill once said:

“Sometimes it isn’t enough to do what’s required, you must do what’s necessary.”

In my mind, I can even hear Sir Winston making that bold statement.

Some people wonder why they’re never promoted on the job. . .it’s because they just do what’s required.

“The boss only required me to do this” without taking the extra step that put them above the crowd.

If you want to succeed in life. . .you must strive to do more than is required.

Titus 3:14 in the Amplified Bible says:

“And let our own [people really] learn to apply themselves to good deeds (to honest labor and honorable employment), so that they may be able to meet necessary demands whenever the occasion may require and not be living idle and uncultivated and unfruitful lives.”

God wants you to be fruitful. . .to do more than is required.  He wants you to go the extra mile. . .that’s the only way you’ll ever find your pony.

Seventh, finding your pony brings you an even greater reward.

There are times in life. . .when, like the optimistic little boy in the beginning of this teaching, we have to just keep digging through the manure. . .the mess of life. . .to find our pony.  However, it’s worth enduring the stench and the nastiness to find the reward.

1 Samuel 2:8 says:

“He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory: for the pillars of the earth are the LORD's, and he hath set the world upon them.”

When you show yourself faithful. . .when you do not grow weary in well-doing (Galatians 6:9). . .when you endure the mess of life. . .then God will lift you up and set your inheritance before you.

Galatians 6:9 in the Amplified Bible says:

“And let us not lose heart and grow weary and faint in acting nobly and doing right, for in due time and at the appointed season we shall reap, if we do not loosen and relax our courage and faint.”

The New Living Translation says we shall “. . .reap a harvest of blessings, if we don’t give up.”

Remember when we endure the mess of life. . . God will lift you up and set your inheritance before you.

Some years back, after the first time I ever used the pony story in a message I  received an instant message from a protégé of mine.  I had shared the pony story with her in an email of encouragement.  She, in turn, shared it with her sons. . .one of whom at the time was a senior in high school.

At his theater banquet that year, the senior shared some words of wisdom along with the pony story and brought the house down.

I was blessed as my protégé told me:  “Your seeds [of wisdom] are multiplying.”  She went on to say:  “It is a double blessing that they are sown into a teenage generation and received!”

And I can’t think of a better way to end this teaching other than to say. . .it doesn’t matter what kind of mess you’re going through. . .remember, there’s a pony in there somewhere.

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