Did you ever pause to consider how limiting it is to be inside your own head, totally constrained by your own thinking habits?
Einstein is reputed to have said that it is impossible to solve a problem using the same thought patterns that got you into the problem in the first place. Think about that! If our inclinations, prejudices, beliefs about the world and its people, and our behavior patterns create a set of issues that we are not happy with, we seek to fix them using the same flawed mental processes that brought them to us. How awful. We simply cannot , on our own, conceive of what else we might do!
We may have certain feelings about ourselves, others, or events that come from parental and family influences, educational influences, our past experiences, etc. We are inclined to see things or people either negatively or positively. We attribute certain motivations to people based upon previous experience or observation. What unfortunate tendencies.
Did you ever wonder how a highly successful person may see a seemingly negative circumstance, compared to how the average person may see it? Does the success oriented person view negative circumstances more as opportunities in disguise, or as the “end of the world”? How would Jesus view them?
A good step in the right direction is to take a Biblical view of yourself if you are a child of God. Remember that God loves you and you are special to Him. Remember that He said to believe the best about others and to forgive quickly. Remember that He said a soft answer turns away wrath. He said not to fear anything except God. He said to work hard and be diligent and honest. He said to watch your words.
He urges us to be humble and thankful and to wish for others what you would wish for yourself. He speaks of sowing and reaping or as people say “what goes around, comes around”. Finally he says the most important thing is that you keep the communications channels open with people in order to share the gospel with them.
Surely Jesus would be most concerned with attitudes that pleased His Father; that led others to God; and He would seek to save the lost rather than to judge them. He would use kind and encouraging words. He would speak only that which had a kingdom purpose. He would be tough on behaviors that were against scripture; and He would model behaviors that obeyed the laws of God and demonstrated God’s love.
There is much Biblical truth we can seek to help us in tough circumstances, and one can also seek the input of others who are Godly and mature in order to get properly oriented in difficult situations. The Bible says that with two or three counselors there is safety.
