What do we do when bad things happen to us? Negative, challenging things are a normal part of life and we can’t always stop them from happening. One thing we can do is to choose how we will react to those things. Proceeding with caution and faith in our future, while going through rough situations can make-or-break a day, a week, a month, a year, or a lifetime.
When we are faced with dilemmas and painful trials a good thing to practice is “reframing.” Reframing is a very popular technique used among most psychologists. It’s basically taking a situation and looking at it a different way or trying to see the positive in something negative. Like taking an old, falling-down house and completely remodeling it. One of the first things you need to do is to make a new framework for the house. Reconstructing your painful, bad situations in your mind will help you make some more sense of it and help get through a tough time.
Visualizing a positive outcome to a negative situation is called “faith” and of course, it all starts with prayer and trust that God has got it all handled even when we don’t! I’ve said it before, but if you have believed the statement, “God never gives you more than you can handle,” I want to tell you again that it’s not true! He does give you more than you can handle but “God will not give you more than HE can handle.” Trust, Faith, Prayer, Assurance, and Hope are all words to ponder, practice, and hold on to. This orientation in life can help turn your “bad” into “good.”
What happens to good people when bad things happen to them? The answer, of course, “they become better people.”
The Bible tells us that the “rain falls on the just and the unjust” so why are some doubtful people so quick to blame God when something bad happens to them and when things are going great they refuse to thank God and give Him the credit? It may be that it’s just human nature and so much easier to find someone to hold responsible for our bad times, or worse yet, terrible disasters- because we just have to find a reason or an explanation for things going wrong. Pray more and seek wise counsel while realizing that everything is temporary, and you will get through it. And make sure you only share your deepest concerns and pains with trusted confidants. Remember, not everyone has your best interest at heart.
Sometimes we guess at what our future holds, and sometimes it can be scary. If we put our trust in the one who created us and keep on “praying like it all depends on God and working like it all depends on us” we will live happier and healthier lives. With this attitude we can be assured that others around us will benefit, and they will want to spend more time hanging out with us.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.” Proverbs 3:5,6
