When you let worry, an offense, or disappointment grow bigger than your peace, what you do next is really important.
You can use the fear, resentment, and pain to manipulate the outcome you want. You can stuff the negative thoughts and emotions down with the others and act like nothing’s wrong. You can let it all grow into a passive aggression that rewrites your identity.
Or, you can grow your peace again. Thank God for every good thing in your life until the joy it brings overwhelms the negativity. Pray and listen for who God wants to be for you right now, until you have all the grace and wisdom you need to deal with difficult people and situations. Give God every insecure, stressful expectation until the only expectation you have left is of encountering his goodness every day, no matter what’s in front of you.
