Two movements of today are at odds with one another: Black Lives Matter and Blue Lives Matter. In several different places I’ve seen Black Lives Matter supporters hurl the argument that Blue Lives Matter isn’t an equal opposite to Black Lives Matter because being a police officer is a choice, whereas being born black is not a choice. While on the surface this statement is true, there’s a much deeper implication that you are automatically a victim because of the color of your skin. Is that true? I wonder, do all black people agree with this statement?

Have you ever considered Joseph? When he was a young man, his own brothers sought to kill him. Instead, they ended up selling him into slavery (Genesis 37:19-36). This was by no means Joseph’s choice and surely put him at a disadvantage. He was a victim of evil. What hostility and anger and hurt that must have produced within him. But he had a choice to make, didn’t he? He could choose what to do with his circumstances. He didn’t seek revenge and he didn’t play the victim. He became a trusted individual in the eyes of Pharaoh, and ended up saving the lives of many people from the famine in the land, including his brothers that sold him into slavery (Genesis 45:5).

We all are dealt certain circumstances in life, many of which we don’t choose for ourselves. We still have a choice to make in what we do under those circumstances. Do we lash out at others and place blame, burn down buildings, riot in the streets? Or do we seek the good that God has planned to come from our trials (Romans 8:28)?

What will you be when you are dealt unwanted circumstances? A victim? Or will you look to God, seek His righteousness, and be a victor?