It's true that many people can go through the exact same situation, but everyone will see or perceive them differently. Reactions or responses are pretty much made up of how we view them - either from a positive angle, or the reverse.

I've heard of great sermons - usually saying that "our attitude determines our altitude in Christ". If this is the case, then we must know that attitude is very important. What we are full of (our heart) is what we will be expressing. If we harbour much anger and bitterness, situations and circumstances that are challenging will often be aggravating the effect or emotion we are filled with. But if we are filled with joy, challenges can be pretty exciting, because we can learn and grow from them. See, the perspective is very different - bringing different responses.

It is not easy to walk with a positive mindset all the way, but it is not impossible. We must not depend on our own strength; we need His strength. We need His supernatural ways to show us the way. Imagine; if we are to live out the age of grace, will we give our other cheek for a slap willingly, or will we retaliate? Most of us will want to challenge back, retaliate, and fight our way to defend our dignity. "Our rights must not be challenged", so we say. How different have we thought of the ways our rights need to be defended from that of the Lord's? Didn't the Lord say that we will more likely submit to the circumstances, but not be overcome by them? In fact, the strength of submission is greater than retaliation.

I love to think of the effects of patience it has on us. James 1:2-3 says "Count it all joy when you fall into various trials, because the testing of your faith produces patience". The Scripture didn't say if you fall, but it states a certainty of the trial and testing. "When you fall into various trials" - it is surely, certainly, you will face them. And it will build your faith, because when faith is tested, it brings maturity.

I'm learning to submit to the challenges I face - die to self, and being alive to God. I am a new creation; so it means that I can see things differently, the way the Lord sees. Of course, we can still be so much of "self", but patience is the key here. Our rights need to be surrendered to God, to shape us and guide us. We will still be subject to the same pressure and stress we have always been facing in the office, in our schools, family and peers; but we don't have to see the same way. Our attitude needs to be that of Christ; different from the world. It is a change that has to happen on the inside.

My hope and prayer is that we will have a more Christ-like attitude towards life. Jesus knew how to be angry at the right things, compassion on the weak and sickly, submissive to authority - so we too need to ask for that. It's not too difficult to ask, because God says that He will give liberally to those who ask. (James 1:5) Let's ask God to teach us how to see things through His eyes.