Is My Way Always the Best Way?

by Wendy Warner, LPC, NCC

Wendy Warner is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in private practice at Trinity Family Counseling Center. In addition to working with couples, children, and individuals, Wendy also enjoys teaching the premarital classes for all couples planning to marry at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Macomb.

What does it mean to accept people and circumstances in our lives?  Do we embrace our child’s temperament, or are they too quiet, too emotional, too loud? Do we accept our spouse as is?  Do we try to make them tidier, more social, ten pounds lighter? What about circumstances?  Do we groan when the unexpected arises, or do we receive it as part of the anticipated trials of life?

Proverbs 3:5-6, reveals how God wants me to approach acceptance:  “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.” When circumstances don’t make sense, I have learned to trust God that He has more understanding of events unfolding than I do.  He gives me a promise that if I acknowledge Him, He will clear the path ahead for me.  To acknowledge Him means to seek Him, live a life reflective of His ways that are described in His word. Acceptance allows me to take the pressure off myself to have all the answers and trust God that He is clearing the way for me.

This acceptance has helped me to let go of moments that in the past would have caused me stress.  I trust God to guide the steps of my children and don’t need to control every detail.  I’m able to trust that He knows better, and I can lean on His ways, not mine.