Not My Favorite
I woke up this morning, looked at the clock, and was surprised by how dark it still was outside.
For whatever reason, a simple thought came to mind:
“I hate when it’s this dark in the morning.”
And almost immediately, I started thinking about that word.
Hate.
We use it so easily.
I hate this weather.
I hate traffic.
I hate weeds.
I hate gardening.
I hate when my team loses.
And here’s one I’ve probably said more than once:
I hate pickles.
Put a couple of pickles on my burger and I’m probably taking them right back off.
But do I really hate pickles?
No.
They’re just not my favorite.
And maybe that’s the point.
Sometimes we even make sure everyone around us knows exactly what we hate.
And I wondered this morning: Why?
There are certainly things in this world that are wrong. There is evil that God Himself opposes. Scripture tells us:
“You who love the Lord, hate evil!”
Psalm 97:10
So this isn’t about pretending everything is good or that we have to like everything.
And it certainly isn’t about positive thinking or trying to improve our attitude.
It’s about choosing God’s Word and allowing Christ to live His life through us.
Paul said:
“I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me.”
Galatians 2:20
That changes the question.
Instead of simply asking, “What do I like?” or “What do I hate?” maybe I can ask:
Lord, how would You have me walk through this?
How would You have me respond?
What would You have others see of You through me?
Jesus said:
“For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.”
Matthew 12:34
Our words reveal something.
When Jesus walked this earth, some of His strongest words were directed toward the religious leaders who had taken something beautiful—a relationship with God—and burdened people with rules and expectations they themselves could hardly carry.
Jesus said:
“For they bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men’s shoulders.”
Matthew 23:4
Later, as the early church grew, the same struggle appeared again. People began adding requirements to the simple message of salvation through Jesus Christ.
Yet the apostles recognized the danger.
Peter asked:
“Now therefore, why do you test God by putting a yoke on the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?”
Acts 15:10
Jesus came offering something very different.
“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
Matthew 11:28
That makes me think about why we are still here.
When I chose to follow Jesus, He could have immediately taken me home to heaven.
But He didn’t.
He left me here with purpose.
Not simply to make my way through this life trying to arrange everything according to my preferences, but to be available to Him—to allow Him to live His life through me.
Paul writes:
“Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ.”
2 Corinthians 5:20
And in another place:
“For we are to God the fragrance of Christ.”
2 Corinthians 2:15
Ambassadors.
The fragrance of Christ.
That means people should be able to experience something of Jesus through the way we live, the way we respond, and yes, even through the words we choose.
Life is going to have difficulties. Jesus never promised otherwise.
“In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
John 16:33
There will be things I don’t enjoy.
There will be circumstances I wouldn’t choose.
There will be mornings that are darker than I’d like, weeds that keep growing, games that don’t go my way, traffic that doesn’t move, plans that change, disappointments far more significant than any of those things—and yes, there will probably be pickles on a burger that I specifically asked to have without pickles.
But perhaps I don’t need to hate them.
Maybe I can simply say:
“Not my favorite.”
And keep walking.
Keep trusting.
Keep choosing His Word.
Keep thanking God.
Keep allowing Christ to live His life through me.
Paul gives us another way to approach life:
“In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
1 Thessalonians 5:18
It doesn’t say everything will be something I enjoy.
It says that in everything, I can give thanks.
That’s not positive thinking.
That’s faith.
It’s trusting that the God who saved me, loves me, and left me here for His purposes can use even the things I would never choose.
So maybe this morning I’m retiring a word from some of the everyday areas of my life.
Hate.
I don’t need everyone to know what I hate.
I’d rather they know Who I love.
And when something comes along today that isn’t exactly what I wanted, instead of allowing my preference to determine my response, maybe I’ll simply say:
“Not my favorite.”
And keep walking with Jesus.
Even the pickles.