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Recently, I have been working with some individuals who are going through difficult times of suffering in their personal lives. In order to work out their situations, their solutions depended on working with people who had been unreasonable in certain ways. Yes, I know there are two sides to every story. 

But in order to resolve those issues, compromise was needed to reach solutions that were imperfect but ones that could be agreed to. How do you do that?          

I’m not good at giving you Five Steps to solving x Problem and Finding Success. Those might make me a more successful blogger, but I don’t think they work out in real life! I can give you some helpful attitudes that have helped me. stop

1. The realization that GOD is way bigger than the immediate problem. His solutions may not be immediately visible, but they are present if I trust Him and keep my eyes open.
2. The awareness that GOD loves me more than I could ever imagine…whether I feel like it or not.
3. The truth that GOD is going to guide me and keep me if I am His child…whether I feel worthy or not.
4. The understanding that GOD never wastes His lessons. He will use what He has taught me and the ways He has comforted me over time in the lives of others.
5. That GOD’s timetable is completely different from mine!
6. That only GOD’s Word is infallible and can be depended on.

These are just a few things I have learned. It has been so helpful in the last few months, to realize how many lessons I have learned that are applicable to situations with which I am working now.

As I was learning, it was hard. I often chafed in the School of Hard Knocks

Over the years, as I chafed at being around manipulative people, struggled to learn how to deal with them in appropriate ways, learned how to ask for what I needed and not function in a passive-aggressive way in the world, I learned a few things. I learned how to take responsibility for my own behavior, to behave as an adult with other adults, and to even learn how to accept the fact that I couldn’t live up to my perfectionistic standards. No, I’m not a robot. I still fail in all those areas. But I have grown a lot by GOD’s grace.

And having gone through those struggles, I know how hard it is. I know something of the difficulty involved…the loneliness…the absolute terror at making the changes needed. But I also know the joy of making some of those changes and how GOD’s grace comes in and comforts and enables.

That is what I can share with these people as well. I don’t share it as someone who has arrived…because I haven’t. I share it as someone who is on the journey along with them. It is a journey with Jesus who walks with us…as we do the laundry, make meals, do errands and worship. As we go to Dr. appointments, lunches, business meetings and all the rest of the things that make up our lives…even the failures when we have to repent to Him and apologize to the people we love. He is there for all of it. He never leaves. He doesn’t walk out. He is there. Talk about the GOOD NEWS of the GOSPEL!

Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have,
for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” 
So we can confidently say,

“The Lord is my helper;
    I will not fear;
what can man do to me?”

 Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God.
Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith. 
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

Hebrews 13:5-8

*****

 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 
who comforts us in all our affliction,
so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction,
with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 

II Corinthians 1:3-4