Have you ever found yourself considering how someone else's actions have resulted in your problems? At times like these, it can be easy to launch into a litany of blame. But faultfinding focuses thought on what's wrong with the situation, to the exclusion of possible remedies. Fortunately, though, there's an alternative to this unproductive habit. It is discovered when we turn to God.

Several years ago I found myself stewing over conflicting demands that were being made on me. I was sure that most people would agree the situation was burdensome. In fact, I had read many newspaper and magazine articles with precisely this theme. So, I felt my frustration was justified. I felt powerless to improve things, however, and became increasingly depressed about the matter.

One morning, when I began to ride this unhappy train of thought for the umpteenth time, a revelation came to me: I was believing that other people were in control of my life. Right on the heels of this thought came gratitude for the recognition that God alone is in control. One of the greatest lessons of the Bible is that God is the only power, the only cause, and that He is in absolute control of His entire creation. There is no secondary power, neither one created by Him nor one beyond His control. King David rejoiced in this knowledge when he declared, "Thine, O Lord, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O Lord, and thou art exalted as head above all" (I Chron. 29:11). As I thought about this uplifting truth, I felt at peace.

Not long after, I had another inspiration that further cemented this peace. The second inspiration sprang out of the Bible story of the Hebrew men Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego (see Dan., chap. 3). In this story King Nebuchadnezzar orders that whoever fails to worship a newly erected pagan image will be thrown into a heated furnace. The three Hebrews were aware of the new edict, but their desire to worship the one true God prohibited them from obeying it. So they were sentenced to be burned.

Suddenly I saw that, from a human perspective, the three Hebrews would have been justified in blaming the king for what would have appeared to be a horrible fate. Evidently, though, they wasted no time condemning the king. Rather, they told him, "Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace." And how right they were! They emerged from the furnace, which was seven times hotter than normal, completely unscathed.

Applying this new perspective to my own situation, I realized that I must drop any self-justification. All my human analysis of the situation needed to be laid aside for a more spiritual perspective. Only then would I find inspiration, progress, and healing.

The night I glimpsed this new view of the Hebrew men's deliverance, a burden was lifted from me. I began holding to the thought that God is wholly in control, and that He plans only good for me and my family. I knew that because God, Spirit, creates us, we have the strength of Spirit supporting our endeavors, no matter what is required of us. We cannot be pulled in different directions by conflicting obligations when we understand that God, divine Mind, directs our actions as well as those of everyone around us. And we never have to define our life as limited by or under the control of other people, because God alone governs.

As my thought became filled with these spiritual truths, I stopped viewing other people as the source of my problem. Further, I no longer felt angry or depressed. Circumstances remained unchanged for another eight months, but I was no longer bothered by them. Then, there was an unexpected change, and I was led out of the situation. Since then, I have had greater confidence that I am subject only to God's control and that He will always lead me in the right way.