We’ve all been there. We know how this feels. It’s frustrating, and it is often overwhelming.

What do you do when events are completely out of your control?

You’ve heard many people talk about it in exasperation. Events have overwhelmed them– – events over which they have no power. They can’t do anything about it.

So, what can we do?

First, we can focus on what we can control rather than what we can’t control. I am completely aware that this is not the answer that any of us want to hear. We want to handle the problems not deal with the periphery of the difficulty.

While we can’t change many things, we can look for areas where we can make a difference in life, in the world, and in the people around us.

For example, in the area of race relations, we can’t change 300 million people, but we can change our interactions on a day by day basis. We can choose to look people in the eye, speak kind words, and smile.

If someone did that toward you, would it make a difference?

It certainly would for me. Therefore, I need to do unto others as I would have them do to me.

I need to focus on what I can control.

Second, focus on people rather than events. If I can’t change Turkey or Afghanistan or Iran, I can change the people around me by praying for them and seeking their best interest.

Two things happen when I focus on blessing people: (1) it blesses them, and (2) amazingly, it blesses me.

How strange life is that our being kind and considerate to others makes us feel better.

Try it; you’ll like it.

Third, we can be people of intense prayer. Our God understands our frustrations. He made us, and He is well aware of our emotions.

Let us go before Him and pour out our souls before the Lord. That is the language in First Samuel where Hannah, a woman unable to bear children, cried out to God for help.

Let us learn to seek God in everything and to take our needs and our hearts to Him.

Unfortunately, we have used prayer as a last resort rather than the first line of defense. Let us be people who pray daily and who seek God fervently.

Let us pray for law enforcement officers. Let us pray for an end to racism. Let us pray that God’s name may be lifted up and exalted by all the peoples of the earth.

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