As much as we might dislike it, there are some things we can’t change or control. That’s a bitter pill for some people to swallow. Let’s face it, we all prefer to have things our way. We want to be pleased. So what do you do when you’re in a situation you can’t change or control? You don’t like it, you don’t want to accept it, but you can’t do anything about it. Do you go to work trying to force change? Do you curl up in a corner and pout? Do you vent your anger? Or do you accept it for what it is and move on? It’s your choice.
You might be in a situation where someone set out to make you miserable. They want to destroy your happiness, and you might blame them for doing so. However, strictly speaking, they can’t. Happiness is a choice. No one can take it from you, it has to be surrendered. Don’t allow others to make you miserable. Your happiness shouldn’t depend on what others do or don’t do. Although you want their love and wish things were different you can be happy without it. You can’t always change or control how they feel about you, but you can refuse to give them power over you–power to determine whether you’re happy or not. If your joy is in the Lord nothing they do can change it.
People can be cruel and it doesn’t bother them a bit to cause you grief. Some make it their mission in life to make you miserable. They do it because they lack love, which is a reflection of their attitude toward God. And as painful as it is for you, their problem is even more serious. Don’t allow their failure to cause your fall. It isn’t wise, healthy, or necessary for you to give up your happiness. You aren’t helping anyone by caving in to their desire. The best way for you to have the best chance to see them change is to be the person God wants you to be. That’s not always easy but for a Christian it is truly possible. God can enable you to overcome the difficulties of life and demonstrate what great things He can do. That’s a goal worthy of your full attention. If you haven’t been doing that, that’s something you can change! And that can make a difference. As someone said, ” I can change no other person by my direct actions, but I can change myself and when I change others tend to change in reaction to me”.– HDS
