I am NOT God!

I had an attitude changing conversation with my friend, Erin Voorhies, the other day.  I was expressing my frustration over some situations and her response was something like this..."Dawn, you need to back up, let go, and let people make their own choices!"  I've been told that I am a complex person.  Relationships are so very important to me and I tend to be a care-taker, but I am also a problem solver and a fixer...at least when it comes to people issues.  This is a combination that often leads to me feeling responsible for the happiness and well being of my friends and family.  Erin gently reminded me that I am NOT God...I cannot control situations or the responses of people and getting upset about it isn't going to change anything.  God created us with a free will so that we could make our own choices and ultimately choose Him and His ways!
When I think of how it hurts me to watch people make choices that appear to be not the best, I cannot imagine how God feels about my choices on a daily basis.  I am sure that many of my choices are not what God would choose for me, but He lets me choose and learn from my mistakes.  If my omniscient God gives me grace when I  make mistakes, how much more should I be willing to extend grace to others?  My job here on this earth is to be me...to love and encourage and teach and walk beside those in my life as they walk their life paths.  Sometimes I need to take a step back, let things go to God, and remind myself that I am human...and thank God that He is in charge!

Give thanks in all circumstances...

"Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."  1Thessalonians 5:16-18  I wish that described me!  I get so tired of being run by my human emotions...doubt, hurt, discouragement, frustration...I dislike them all!  There are days that I wish not to be human, not to feel deeply, not to be so affected by the people around me.  There are days when the circumstances of life just wear me down.  There are times when I face situations that seem hopeless and impossible.  That is when I MUST go back to this verse. 
The Apostle Paul knew that we humans have the power to choose; that God created us with a free will.  The key to contentment is choosing to be joyful always.  And choosing to pray continually.  And choosing to give thanks in all circumstances.  Sometimes, I don't FEEL like doing any of them, but that is when it is most important for me to choose to be joyful, and pray, and give thanks.  I can choose to let my emotions run the show or I can choose God's will for me.  That seems like a pretty clear, no-brainer choice!  I start by asking God to show me His perspective and give me His heart.  Then, I find a tiny seed of gratitude in my heart and focus on that.  Then the joy will sprout if I allow it!  The key for me is to stop and think about the choice before me and then to choose God's will: be joyful, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances!  That is the choice that I am going to keep making as long as I am human!