Unshackled Moments ~ June 15 ~ Are You An Outie Or An Innie?

No matter what we do or how we prepare, life happens. That means that there are going to be times when we are unexpectedly surprised with wonder and joy as pleasure or good fortune swing by to say hello. It also means that no matter how we determine to choose happy or think positively or have an attitude of gratitude misery, pain, and loss or going to have their visitation as well. When that happens we generally want them to leave, and quickly. We want what ever situation that precipitated their arrival to be changed for the better or done away with, and preferably five minutes ago.


But not only is that not how it works, it's not how we need it to work. It's not that the situation,  the people, places and things in our life need to change or be changed. It's we that need to change. When we change the situation, or at least our reaction to it, will change, and we will have grown as a result.  But how do we change? We don't, not really. Because we can't. You can't truly change the core of who you are or how you react to things any more than a lion can stop acting like a lion. We can cover our reactions, use determination and discipline to control ourselves and fake it...for a while, but sooner or later we'll lose control and act just like we always did before.

It is not, however, all hopeless. While we can't create any lasting and real change in our character, behavior, thinking  and reactions, we can submit to the control and power of God, who can and will change us. When we use the negative aspects of life, regardless of if their arrival is our fault, someone else's fault or the random fate of nobody's fault, to turn us to God rather than away from Him and make us malleable to our Maker's touch we can find peace in the storm, joy in the midst of sorrow and love in the face of betrayal and rejection. We can have a life worth living regardless of and not dependent upon our circumstances and situations. Life from within can not be long effected by  or controlled by the outside. While life that is due to good and positive outer circumstances will never last.