Bitterness, resentment, jealousy, competition, and offense rarely remain private emotions. Left unchecked, they begin building something. They influence our conversations, shape our attitudes, and affect those around us. Strong churches are built from strong families, and strong families require us to occasionally examine what we have allowed to remain standing.

Ezekiel would become a prophet whose words have reached nations for more than 2,600 years. He would see dry bones become a mighty army. He would watch divided people become one. He would receive visions of restoration, revival, and a river flowing from the house of God all the way to the sea. But first, he sat among the captives. That is a powerful reminder that where you start does not determine how far God can take you.

What occupies our minds has tremendous influence over the opportunities we recognize. If we continually rehearse where we came from, eventually going backward can begin to look like an opportunity. But when our minds are fixed on the “better country” ahead, even difficult circumstances stop looking like exits. Mindsets determine destinations.