Philippians 4:6-7 New International Version (NIV)
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
In my view by far the most helpful weapon that a Christian has in dealing with the world is the peace "that transcends all understanding." It is childishly immature to expect all in the world to like you or even respect you. Great psychological energies can be expended in fretting over this matter. When one seeks first to do the will of the Heavenly Father, this permits one to navigate life absent a whole freight-load of vain anxieties. The anxiety loop we tread attempting to control how others think of us is rendered largely nugatory. The great guiding principles of the Bible challenge us to productive spiritual freedom and creativity. One's validation as a person does not then depend upon the vicissitudes of the vicious.
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