“Life is pain, Highness. Anyone who says differently is selling something.” –Man in Black, The Princess Bride

Both angry and hurting about something that happened a few days ago, I called a friend needing to talk and wound up being the one doing the listening. As it happens, it was better for me that way. Talking about what what had upset me wouldn’t have solved anything and it probably would only have made the internal churning worse. But listening, being there for someone I love, praying for her when I hadn’t even been able to pray for myself, snapped me out of the funk I had slipped into and served to remind me (as if I could really forget) that there is plenty of pain and unfairness in life stemming from circumstances beyond our own control, and it made me determined to do something about the few things I can do something about.

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. –Romans 8:28

It can be very easy, especially when you live alone, to dwell on the things you wish you could change in your life but can’t. However, I’ve discovered that focusing my attention on others instead of dwelling on my own circumstances helps significantly. It changes me, lifts me, gives my life purpose and meaning, and shifts my focus back to where (or rather on Whom) it belongs.

In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross! –Philippians 2:5-8

It’s not always easy to focus on someone else instead of focusing on my own circumstances, and to be honest I probably fail as often as I succeed. But I keep trying because I know that giving up isn’t an option. God put me here for a reason and that reason isn’t to wallow in self-pity. To the best of my ability I’m here to love Him, glorify Him, serve Him and others, and to shine His light in a dark, hurting, and hopeless world. I don’t know why He chose a screw-up like me, but if He can use me, I’m His to use.

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. — Galatians 2:20