Are you facing a complicated situation in your life right now? It might be a family issue or problems at work. Or maybe your church community is going through a crisis.

During these moments, you typically experience a wide range of emotions. You might feel anger, sadness, frustration, or even the desire to run away from it all. But what you want most of all is for things to change. You want things to get better.

How the situation will be resolved is anyone’s guess. It might take a long time for healing and reconciliation to occur — if ever. So what can you do? For starters, you can pray for everyone involved — even for those who frustrate you.

And you can change too.

It might not be your fault. It might not be anyone’s fault. Or maybe many are to blame. But when facing a complicated situation — if you feel confused and anguished — then the best thing to do is go to God.

Instead of getting tangled up in your feelings, lay it all at his feet. If needed, ask for forgiveness. Ask God to change you so you can see clearly. Then you can act if needed — and wait patiently if not. This doesn’t mean you don’t care. Instead, you seek and trust God to show you how to navigate the stormy waters.

Don’t let your feelings get the best of you. This only leads to actions you’ll regret later or feelings of depression and despair. Instead, find the healthiest perspective possible. Let the Lord show you how.

And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness in realizing the full assurance of hope until the end, so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

Hebrews 6:11-12

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Can you live in harmony with God at all times? Some say it’s impossible. It’s time to find out.

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Prayer for change

O blessed Lord,

 Contradiction and confusion surround me. Conflicts and petty rivalries rise up.

My heart aches to see all the hurt around me.

Won’t you send your help, O Lord?

Even though it doesn’t all depend on me, even though I can only do so much, I ask you, O Lord, change me first.

Open my mind and my heart. May your Spirit do his good work.

Let me let go of my selfish desires. Let me give up my preferences.

May I accept things as they are, and remain steadfast in the Lord.

I may not understand. I may not like it, but you can change me.

Clear away my confusion.

Covert my doubt into confidence.

Replace my anguish with your peace.

Reveal to me the clarity of Christ.

From there I will rest, as the Lord is my refuge.

From there I will act when you call me to serve.

From there I will go forward as the Lord prepares the way.

In Jesus name,

Amen.