All kinds of things in our relationships get our attention and emotional reactions. The more difficult our relationships are, the more things that will challenge us, but each of us only has a certain amount of emotional, physical, and spiritual energy. We need to be good stewards of that energy the same way we need to be good stewards of our time and money. One of the best questions you can ask yourself when something upsets you is: “How important is it?”

Just because something upsets you doesn’t mean it needs to be confronted or dealt with. Here are some questions you can ask yourself to help you figure out how important something really is:

• Is it life-threatening to you or someone else?
• Does it require immediate action from you?
• Is it simply a difference of opinions?
• Is it something that will change if you confront it or deal with it?
• Is it something that is part of someone else’s personality and the way they are with everyone else too?
• Will there be lasting consequences as a result of what just happened?
• Is the amount of energy you will expend in confronting or dealing with this thing equal to its importance?

As you can see, there are some things that happen in your relationships that aren’t important enough for you to spend your limited and precious emotional, spiritual, and physical energy on. Once you recognize that something isn’t that important, choose to let it go. However, if you recognize that it is something that is important, decide to take whatever action is necessary.

By Karla Downing

Relationship Devotional Prayer

 
God,

God give me discernment to figure out which things in my life are worth expending my physical, emotional, and spiritual energy on. Give me the courage to deal with the things that are important and the discipline to let go of the things that aren’t important.

Relationship Devotional Challenge

• When something bothers you, ask yourself the questions listed above to determine how important it is.
• Decide if it is important enough to take action. If it is, do it. If it isn’t, let it go.

Scripture Meditation

 
Proverbs 29:20

“Do you see a man who speaks in haste? There is more hope for a fool than for him” (NIV).