We all battle against forces that disempower us. Some of these forces are set directly against us. Others come from within and assail our minds and emotions. Many of those that are directly set against us also undermine our confidence, just as much as our minds might portray a doable situation as harder than it is.
Life is so complicated. It is meant to overwhelm us because it commonly overwhelms everyone — at least from time to time — if they’re vulnerable enough to be honest. But one of the biggest problems of life is that we commonly imagine we are the only ones who have these struggles, and that breeds shame in us. “I’m the only one who loses it in this situation.” “I’m just too sensitive.” “I can’t control my anger.” “I’m the only one that panics in this situation/like this.” “I hate being so depressed and useless.” “Why am I no good at anything [like other people]?” “At times I feel ashamed to be alive and when I feel this way, I feel worthless.”
You are not the only one.
Issues like these beleaguer every daughter and son.
In the Bible there’s a thing called the replacement principle (Philippians 4:8-9). Popular psychologists have latched onto this principle, knowing that it is the power to overcome. You see them telling you to ADD something into your life if you give up smoking or attempt to lose weight. The wisdom is we cannot simply take something away and expect not to feel the sting of loss. It’s the same when we feel like giving up; when our energy is low, when we’re tormented mentally, when we can’t regulate our emotions.
The biblical replacement principle works on the fact that as humans we operate so much better when we accentuate the positive — when we’re insistently hopeful.
The key thing about the replacement principle is it’s a THINKING construct. All the power in our lives comes first from the mind that is harnessed and directed toward the things of life. But we have a big problem; we all do. This is because the things of death dominate our world — there’s so much negativity, and it’s not only in the media and the world around us.
Negativity reigns in the home as well. This is nothing to be ashamed about. Let’s be honest. If there’s darkness anywhere, if there’s a place most safe to be in the darkness, or to let darkness rule, or a place where we most feel trapped in the darkness, it’s in our homes where we and others are away from prying eyes.
We are not alone in our negativity. We do not need to be ashamed. It’s normal. It’s so normal that it’s basically common from home to home to home down every street in every city in every country. Dysfunction is nothing to be ashamed about. It thrives only when we cannot bear to face it. Instead, we can turn toward it, and with a heart of acceptance, let’s embrace our dysfunctions and convert them to something useful. Shame can bunker down and make no home where we refuse it a place, preferring instead to harbour thoughts of acceptance and hope.
Here are some simple examples of thinking conversions using the replacement principle:
First, there’s the lived situation.
Then, there’s the response we replace it with.
Life is unfair.
So be as fair as you can today.
There is often so much despair.
So be somebody’s hope today.
You may feel taken for granted.
So appreciate others today.
There are many reasons to complain.
So be grateful for what you have.
Do these things and feel the exhilaration of hope empower and encourage you with confidence. We can overcome when we think on what is true, and honourable, and noble, and just, and pure, and pleasing, and commendable. THINK ON THESE THINGS and we quickly find God gives us overcoming power for the instant. It’s all we need; power for the moment. God is with us.
Now, if you made it this far, and I hope you did, I want you to know that there are days in all our lives, including my own, when we’re tempted to give up. If life is tough for you right now, please take heart, and take some love from me to you!
Photo by Sasha Freemind on Unsplash
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