October 2010

Have you ever been faced with a problem that resulted for you in unfair criticism and misunderstanding from those you loved? Have you ever tried to rise above it and yet been bowed down with a sense of despair that the very ones in whom you had faith had proved the first to turn against you? If you find yourself in such a situation, you will be able to stabilize your thinking and find peace only when you turn radically to God and leave the matter entirely in His hands. Then, and then only, can you dismiss it from your mind if in addition, you permit yourself to think only lovingly and kindly of those who have wronged you. It requires firmness to maintain such a position.

On every hand little arguments will force themselves into your thinking about the unfairness and injustice with which you have been treated. Self-pity will present itself and carry with it a desire to throw yourself on your bed and have a good cry.
Fear will come scurrying along with mental images of the vindictiveness that the incident can arouse. Self-righteousness will demand that you defend yourself loudly and perhaps even angrily. If, however, you continue to stand firm in your determination to see only good in those who have wronged you, gradually the peace of God that passeth all understanding will permeate your consciousness. Helpful Bible verses will penetrate your thinking. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil, for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies.

Just that much will make you turn to the twenty-third Psalm for reading and rereading. Perhaps you will page through Isaiah and Jeremiah for other strength-giving verses. As you read, you will get the most comfortable feeling that criticism and injustice can't touch you just so long as you cling closely to God and let nothing enter your thinking but Gods kind of thinking.

A day or a week may elapse before the situation is cleared up, but if you are determined in your effort to express only love, Gods kind of love, you will suddenly awake to the wonderful truth that actually nothing matters because always there is God. And to rest confidently in the truth that there is always God is to bring about a harmonious unfoldment of what originally looked like a problem. There can be no problems where there is always God!