Accepting We Cannot Fix Someone

The priests agreed that they would not collect any more money from the people and that they would not repair the temple themselves” 2 Kings 12:8

    Over the years I have had to accept the reality that I cannot fix anyone. Not my mother, brother, sister, wife, child, or friend. Only God can fix people, and He can only fix them if they allow Him to do so.

    Human pride, stubbornness, willfulness, arrogance, the absolute unwillingness to change within a human heart cannot be overcome by our desires and wishes no matter how strong or intense our feelings may be.

    People will treat us badly, at times because of our illness and disability. Some people, perhaps friends and family, may treat us differently or dismiss us from their lives because of our illnesses and the way our illness limits our abilities and interactions with others.

    It is painful when what is so clear to us completely eludes those in our lives. Yet we must accept that we do not have the power to change the actions and reactions of others. Most of the time we have our hands full just trying to have some measure of control over ourselves and our own life.

    When people around us behave badly toward us, especially when it involves our illness and disability, it can make us feel like we have been stabbed in the back. It can cause resentment, and can make us bitter. But the good news is that with God’s help we can choose how we act and react despite the bad behavior of others.

    It is humbling and yet freeing to realize we cannot fix or control how others act and behave. Accepting and acknowledging what is beyond our control allows us to focus upon the things we can control. When we allow God to deal with the people and problems around us, we can truly focus our limited energy where it will do the most good.

    Prayer: Dear Lord, we want to fix people and situations, yet there are some things we can never fix. Help us to let go of what we cannot control, and to change the things we can control in the best way possible with Your help. Amen.