Difficult people are everywhere, and I do mean everywhere!  They are at home, work, church, restaurants, doctors’ offices,  schools – everywhere!    Difficult people can bring you to tears, make you want to pull your hair out, and suck the life out of you.  And, let’s be truthful, sometimes we ourselves have been the difficult person.

There was a time that I thought I could change people through reason and persuasion.  If I had a rational conversation with them, or if I was nice, they’d listen!  Well, occasionally that was successful, but generally we can’t change anyone.

When I was ready to leave for college, I was so excited.  I could hardly wait to start this new adventure in my life.  After growing up in a tough, dysfunctional environment, I would finally have a chance to be free.  Not so fast!  My father said, “You are not leaving to go anywhere.”  Fear came over me.  What would happen?  Would it be safe for me to leave? Even more, would it be safe for my mother if I left?  That night with tears wetting my pillow, I asked God to do something.

I got up the next morning and left for college.  As we drove away, the last thing I saw was my mother standing on the porch crying and smiling.  I was so worried about my mother.  What would happen!

After being at school a few days, I came up with enough money to call home for three minutes.  Pushing through the fear of what I might hear from my mother, I called anyway.  When I asked how were things after I left?  My mother’s response, “He never said a word!”  What?!  HE NEVER SAID A WORD!

As we celebrate this Christmas, my mind ponders Mary, the mother of Jesus.  She needed God to work on Joseph.   Think of the story she told him.  “Joseph, I am going to have a baby.  I know we are engaged, and we both know you are not the father.  I can explain!  It was God.  I was overcome by the Spirit of God, and in me has been birthed the Messiah.  Isn’t that exciting!”

Joseph wasn’t buying it.  The engagement was off.  At least he held his temper in check, and decided not to go public with the story, and instead just walked away.  Mary’s heart must have been broken as Joseph walked away.  Could Mary trust God?  Mary had to ask herself, “Can I trust God to work out every problem I encounter if I submit myself to His will?  Can he even deal with the person that I am incapable of changing?”

Conflict was raging in Joseph’s soul.  That night Joseph was restless on his bed as he contemplated that Mary had violated their engagement promise. “How could she betray me that way? I can’t go through with this marriage. I’ll be nice about it, but I am ending this thing!”

Mary must have felt hopeless that Joseph would feel this way, but she had to leave Joseph in God’s hands. No amount of talking, pleading and begging could change his mind. As Joseph lay upon his bed, God spoke to him. God changed Joseph’s heart, and he walked in the will of God and became the earthly father to Jesus Christ.

Who are you wrestling with? What’s troubling you, making you feel powerless? Talking and pleading might not be the answer. Talking to God and asking Him to change that which seems unchangeable is the answer. Leave it in God’s hands.

“I am the LORD, the God of all the peoples of the world. Is anything too hard for me?” – Jeremiah 32:27