Last week we pondered how our emotional wiring starting from childhood frames our life perspective. In situations where we have experienced hardship and trauma from a young age, in perception or reality, our lives can be stuck in negative cycles that can not only distort our realities, but also, rob joy from our lives.

In addition to actual pain we’ve experienced affecting our perspectives, we can also fall victim to misunderstanding what really happened. With that trap and all the pitfalls of life at work, not to mention evil influences, it’s a wonder we can feel positive at all! That thought gave me pause, for it must be some amazing force of good and light, that is, God through Yeshua, that literally rescues us from living with fear and hurt. I also know we must do our part to fight for the joy of life.

A few days ago someone hurt someone I love with words. I didn’t hear what was said but I was impacted since she was so upset and came to me for love. What was my go-to reaction?

Especially when someone we love is hurt by another’s demeanor or words, it’s easy to misread the situation. In this case the person whose feelings were hurt was a child so my challenge was even harder. I have to admit my go-to was to be upset and assume the worst since my love for her probably blinded me to the reality of what probably happened. The challenge is not to jump to negative conclusions, especially more difficult to do when the person hurt is a loved one, and in this case even more challenging, a child.

As it turned out it was a big misunderstanding. I was grateful that I had the forbearance to not follow my initial instincts other than soothing the hurt child. As time allowed, the facts became apparent and all is right with the world.

Interesting was the timetable. The investigation and resolution didn’t happen until the next day. What that meant for me was waking up in the middle of the night mentally reliving the event and feeling very unsettled. That’s when I knew what I really had to do – to ask God for His guidance. When I did so, and not immediately but after a couple hours of listening and working it through with Him, did I have these insights and peace with the situation. Only then did I know what I needed to do the next day and how to love all concerned.

In addition to being reminded to seek God always, I actually learned that awaking in the middle of the night, as I think many of us do, may have a connection to the third and fourth watches in Biblical times. I’ll let you do your own research on that thought, for in the course of my state of distress I was inexplicably led to research this subject, one I had never even heard of until that night. Generally for me, and perhaps others, there is a tendency to process well in that quiet of the night and I do pray and seek God’s Word at those times, sometimes just to have quiet time for conversation with Him. Listening to psalms then is the best and He never leaves me still searching when I seek help with life’s curve balls.

I’m not suggesting you wake from a sound sleep. On the other hand, if you’re up then I do encourage you to make the most blessed time of it!

Clearly, life has its stressful moments and how we experience them is framed by our unique ways of seeing them. To remain able to see the good and not fall victim to negativity is a life journey, one we cannot accomplish lovingly without divine intervention. How blessed we are that He is always there for us no matter how dark the night.

Shabbat shalom.

Diane