How do you respond?
My husband and I went to the grocery store the other day. A woman made a snarky comment as she passed us. I thought I was hearing things, but she stopped with her cart and repeated her rude comment.
I wanted to scream at her. I wanted to disappear. I wanted to lash out.
Things are going to happen in life, but everything is about how we respond.
In Bible school, they always said, Life is only 10% life, and 90% how you respond to it.
It couldn’t be more true. We can’t control some of the things that come our way. We can’t control what the world does.
But, we can control ourselves.
Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will. 2 Timothy 2: 23-26
This verse cuts straight to my heart!
The Bible is telling us to be kind to everyone even though they might be ignorant or foolish. That we need to be able to teach others amidst hard circumstances. That we need to patiently endure the evil that we cannot control. That we need to correct others with love and gentleness, not hatred!
Because when we do that, that gives God the opportunity to reveal the truth to them.
I know our first response is to be angry or frustrated, to scream or shut down. But God is asking us to respond in a different way.
And when we respond to others and our circumstances with a level head, sound mind and in love, it changes everything.
Imagine if you always responded to life’s hard situations with a good outlook and positive mindset. If you responded gently and in love?
Our lives would look a whole lot different!
We get so frustrated at every little thing that it makes our lives miserable. If we could just look at everything through a Godly perspective and respond accordingly, our lives would be extraordinary.
Remember, life is only 10% life, but 90% how you respond to it.
How do you respond?
Response Questions
1. What is your first response when something is hard, painful or triggers you?
2. How can you start responding in love and gentleness, with a Godly mindset?