Encouragement

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I find more and more as I walk through life that there is a lot of acceptance that needs to be in place. For me, I struggle with this sometimes as I feel I would like to have the power to change things I see as wrong or inappropriate in me and in others or just in general. But, if when I feel challenged, I stop and simply ask God for guidance, He will show me what to do, but, I find it always comes from a place of inner acceptance that shifts can take place. For instance, if I am in a difficult circumstance and I turn to God by accepting that this is how reality is right now, I am already placed in a position of strength in the midst of powerlessness. He will help me work through the situation the sooner I accept its existence. I need to accept its presence by letting God help me to do that. If I need to do something in the situation or a change needs to occur inside me, He will let me know.

My challenge is in the acceptance of what I define as negative that I do not want to deal with. What I have found so far is that I need to accept the reality and that place of pain. Nobody, I believe wants to go through negative realities, but, this is how I see handling it to be helpful. Beginning with experiencing the presence of wrong and it feels challenging, but, God has a handle on everything, I do not need to be reacting to fix anything without His guidance which is always best for me. And, the most difficult part for me is trusting in Him to take care of me through His presence and whatever other means of assistance He brings to me.

Really trusting God, I find is a developing relationship. Being strong-willed and feeling responsible to fix things is both a strength when it is Godly and a weakness when it is not. God knows best. My nature is to take it on, but, I am learning more and more that not all problems are mine to fix and that some things really are harder to truly accept than others, but, if I accept, then, I can live again and stay close to God. With the most difficult challenges I have had and have, I see that if I do not allow myself to give it to God, they do not seem to change anyway. So, if I give it to Him and accept this, I am influencing change because that may be exactly what I am suppose to do which is accept its reality and leave it in His hands to deal with.

There is a flesh fight because naturally I want to see it change, but, obviously God wants me to accept its presence and be able to live without trying to fix it. It is a lesson in what is not in my charge to change, not my way, not at this time, in His time, and, if I am to do something, He will let me know. I just believe that things seem to work better like this. God is good and my way may not be the best way and accepting the reality is a necessary step in dealing with it. Even as I write this, I feel a sense of appropriate Godly relief about an issue that I have difficulty not wanting to have the power to change it, but, I see that it does not work. There is a knowing that this is how it needs to be and I simply need to rely on Him to guide me through my life. It is not mine to fix and I have not failed because I cannot fix it. However, I may be an instrument that God may be using to influence change in say that particular thing I may be having trouble accepting at that specific time, but, it is not necessarily the way I want it to be. I care, but, it is not my job to fix something that I cannot fix. I simply need to continue in His presence, listening to Him and His guidance on livng my life moment by moment to the best of my ability.

I really see the value in acceptance. There is something very precious about applying acceptance. I believe for me that if I could accept each and every situation with acceptance in spirit with God, then, trust His guide for change when it is time. Though it is difficult to accept certain things in life, acceptance brings a sense of peace that God is here working in the situation. It may not be how I want it, but it is how it is for now or how it needs to be. Acceptance does not mean I have to like it, but, simply that I am surrendering to Him in the situation at hand. I often feel that maybe I should change the situation, or my thinking about it, but, it always comes from a place of acceptance of what is. I feel His movement come in this place and I feel really good about it.

Acceptance also means to me that God is working in the situation if I stay focused on Him. He will show me if need to take action. Acceptance is where I need to be grounded in. I accept means this is how things are. It may change, but, for right now this how things need to be.

I also find acceptance to be a process on some matters. For example, there are greater matters that require a processing of coming to a place of peace. Some things can be easier to accept and even welcomed, some more difficult. But, everything in my view is in God's hands. He will shine the light on the situation. Sometimes there may be a reason why the process is so long. I know for me, I often wonder why He does not bring the quick illumination, but, there is a reason though I may not know why. He knows why and I need to stay focused on Him. This can sometimes be very difficult for me to do. The waiting for the answer and simply continuing life.

A Prayer for Acceptance in
Challenging Circumstances

Father, I am having difficulty accepting
(name the problem here). I know You know
what is best. I ask Father that You give
me peace in this matter and if You see fit,
could You shine the light and Your knowledge
on how I need to proceed. Thank You Father.
Amen.

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