I was mad. Hurt. Fed up. Over what? Oh, the usual.
My husband—can’t he see I need some attention? My kids—why are they acting so entitled? Did I raise them to be this ungrateful? My job—deadlines, expectations, stress, stress and more stress.
When can I catch my breath?
What’s your response going to be?
It’s nothing new, right? We all have our list of occasional irritations, underlying heartaches, relationship challenges, insecurities and grievances against life.
Every once in a while, mine reaches a tipping point. And I know what I need to do—reach out for accountability and reason. So I sent an SOS text to a trusted friend, begging her to talk me off the ledge of my resentment.
She sympathized. She encouraged. She received my angst and held it in her hands, like a true friend will. But then she hurled it to the sky beyond my reach—with these very wise words: “Our time on earth is full of disappointments. But we can choose how we think about it and how we respond.”
And that will make all the difference. When my husband wounds me with his humanity—will I remember I’m a sinner, too, and count his thousands of merits instead of a few selective flaws? Will I forgive more readily than I criticize?
When my children are too loud or contrary, or they demand too much of my presence and energy—will I wish these days away or choose to see the chaos as a gift that will all-to-soon fly to college?
And when my desk beckons with an insurmountable workload, how easy is it to gripe about the to-do list rather than praise God for abundant provision.
Joy and trust
How would my heart expand with joy instead of sorrow if I’d only choose to see the good and trust God with the rest?
Disappointments are a given in this world. My friend is right.
Jesus told us, “In this world you will have trouble” (John 16:33). That’s just a fact. How we view the trouble will determine our satisfaction. It’s the difference between peace and distress, happiness and resentment.
And I want to make the right choice. Don’t you?
Happy 2022, everyone. Let’s make this our best year yet—not based on circumstances, but on our response to the circumstances. “For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all” (2 Corinthians 4:17).
Consider a few extra resources:
