In the past year we’ve had two floods in our basement. The first affected the ceiling, part of an outer wall, and a good-sized area of parquet flooring. The second concentrated itself around our water heater, an area behind a large storage closet, and the basement bathroom floor.
Rather than wallowing in self-pity after these events, I decided to look for lessons I could learn and share.
In Pipe Lesson 1 I explained how JB and I chose to shift our mindset at each turn of events. And in Pipe Lesson 2 I focused on the pain we can cause ourselves by dwelling on negative thoughts.
Yet most of us believe we have no choice in how we respond to life’s unwelcome circumstances. When someone cuts us off in traffic, we believe we have to react in anger. When the car’s check engine light illuminates, triggered fear seems the only option. When an expensive bill arrives, self-pity presents itself as our sole response.
When life gets uncomfortable or feels out of control, worry, anxiety, and even anger seem to pop up out of nowhere. But it’s all a matter of perspective. Jesus knew we’d face adversities, big and small, on this planet, so He shared His personal outlook on life: “These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).
We can focus on our predicaments or we can stand in faith like the David in Psalm 27:1–The Lord is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the defense of my life; Whom shall I dread?
If we choose to dwell on negative thoughts, negative emotions follow closely behind. Those negative thoughts and emotions come to us as temptations which we may either embrace or refuse. According to God’s Word, we do have a choice in how we respond.
I Corinthians 10:13 reveals that with every temptation God will provide a way of escape. Daily the devil offers us opportunities to fume, fuss, or fear—like carrots on a stick. Just as we teach our children never to take candy from strangers, we need to recognize and flee temptation in its various forms, especially regarding our thought life. (Why would we believe our children have more self-control than we do?)
James 4:7 advises, Submit to God, resist the devil and he will flee from you.
Proverbs 16:32 (HCSB) instructs, Patience is better than power, and controlling one’s temper, than capturing a city. We have the option of ruling our emotions. They do not have to rule over us.
Finally, Galatians 5:16 reveals that if we walk by the Spirit, we will not carry out the desires of the flesh. Our flesh wants to react negatively to life’s triggers. But our spirits want to follow the way of peace.
