Your Circumstances Don't Care

It's easy to get mad at your adverse circumstances.  Chances are, they deserve it. 

That trying situation you are going through?  It probably needs to be called out and vilified for being so awful. 

And that bad thing that happened to you...  You have my permission to let off some steam by calling it every name in the book.  

But you need to realize something as you are railing away at the unwanted circumstances, situations and awful things that have happened to you:  They could care less.  

I read this amazing quote from the ancient Roman playwright Euripides today.  He wrote, "You shouldn't give circumstances the power to rouse anger, for they don't care at all."  

It doesn't matter how mad you get, frustrated, or full of despair--circumstances aren't concerned about your feelings.  They are not people that can respond to your frustration, and no amount of anger is going to change that fact.  

I struggle with this something fierce.  

When I am running late, and stuck behind a slow moving truck on a two line road where I can't pass---no amount of steaming and fuming behind the wheel is going to make it better. But nine times out of ten, I find myself doing it anyway.  

When I find myself dealing with situations that are causing me stress, but are quite beyond my control it's easy for me to start whining and complaining.  But no matter how big my pity party might get, it's not going to fix it.  

What I need in those moments is not to rail at my circumstances, but to turn to Jesus, and find in him the strength to be at peace.  

The Apostle Paul once wrote: 

12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

Chances are, when I am facing hard situations and circumstances, I got into them because I lacked the peace and contentment of Jesus in the first place.  

May you discover in the midst of your circumstances, situations and challenges new depths of peace and connections with Christ.  May you find in this peace and connection a renewed sense of contentment no matter what you face.  

And may the grace and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you now and always. Amen.