Telling myself it's out of my hands

[Lost_Wanderer]

I’m sure plenty of people here who say the best last-resort solution is to leave everything else up to God.

Well, I’m currently in a situation where that’s the only thing I can do. However, is there anything else that you would tell yourself to keep your hands from making things worse? Stories like the fate of Lot’s wife and the call to shake the dust off one’s feet have helped me so far. I’m just looking for more things that’ll counter my impulses and tell myself that it’s not my place to intervene outside of my own issues.

See, I’m currently surrounded by problems that, while not mine, put me in a sort of blast radius. Once these problems go kaboom, I’ll still get caught lest I dig myself a shelter. Got any words that I can tell myself to just stick to digging said bomb shelter instead of accidentally lighting the fuse?

 

[Auntie_A]

Helping or not helping? To be or not to be? You seem certain that you must not “get in there” anymore. And yet it’s so tempting to move back in there and feel some measure or illusion of control. I’ve been there in the “blast radius” and had to clean up the debris. Many of us have been there.

These things help me: 1.) God can do in a second what it takes a lifetime for us to achieve and He does it in His own way and His own time. 2.) A prayer can do in a minute what we humans take years of words and elbow grease to change. 3.) Many people do indeed have to fall into their own dangerous holes in order to learn something important; we need to step out of their way so they can learn and not blame. 4.) I could actually make this situation worse; am I being self-centered here? 5.) I must drive my car and let others drive theirs; If I try to drive the other person’s car on the freeway, who is driving MY car?

Not as pictorial as the Lot’s wife story but take what you like…

 

[Lost_Wanderer]

Helping or not helping? To be or not to be? You seem certain that you must not “get in there” anymore. And yet it’s so tempting to move back in there and feel some measure or illusion of control. I’ve been there in the “blast radius” and had to clean up the debris. Many of us have been there.

Happy to see you understand. From your response, I think I’ll push forward with a thread that contemplates the idea that some of us might just be called to focus on ourselves more than everyone else (despite the risks of being labelled self-centered or self-preservationist).

These things help me: 1.) God can do in a second what it takes a lifetime for us to achieve and He does it in His own way and His own time. 2.) A prayer can do in a minute what we humans take years of words and elbow grease to change. 3.) Many people do indeed have to fall into their own dangerous holes in order to learn something important; we need to step out of their way so they can learn and not blame. 4.) I could actually make this situation worse; am I being self-centered here? 5.) I must drive my car and let others drive theirs; If I try to drive the other person’s car on the freeway, who is driving MY car?

Not as pictorial as the Lot’s wife story but take what you like…

I’ll take it all. Thanks. Hopefully this will attract who have had the same plight and can offer more words to keep digging as it were.

 

[the_phoenix]

So you have a friend drowning in the ocean, and you jump in to try and save the person … only to find your friend grabbing a hold of you and pushing your head underwater too. Maybe from fear, maybe from a “misery loves company” thing, who knows. Now you’re both drowning. You’ve done your best to save your friend, but your friend isn’t cooperating, apparently doesn’t want to be saved, and is now putting your life at risk. What else can you do besides break free and swim safely to shore? That way one person lives instead of two dying.

In some cases, best to love someone from a good safe distance and pray for them.

…

 

[Crescentinus]

Knowing when to intervene and when to help from a distance and then praying for the person/s involved is always a tricky thing to do. At times, it is best to be in the blast radius and then clean the mess.