Are you exhausted by never-ending drama in your life and in the lives of others? While some of us try to escape drama, others dive head first into it! Admittedly, conflict is a part of life. Despite what people may say, it’s impossible to live a completely drama-free life. However, what about continual turmoil? What does it mean if drama keeps finding you and you can’t stay out of it? Let’s unpack all of that today!

There are two types of drama. I believe that if you can pinpoint the type you’re dealing with, you can determine whether the answer is to get rid of it or get through it.

The Drama that Life Brings

One type of drama is inescapable because it’s the type that we face when we subscribe to life. For example, COVID brought a lot of distress. People were forced to be together, more than what they ever imagined. The pandemic caused a lot of transitioning and many types of loss: loss of employment, loss of family, loss of people. This is the drama that life brings. You can’t pin this type of circumstance on one person or group, no matter how hard you try. Drama can creep into lives without any notice, without any regard. It just happens. Trouble happens everywhere because life happens everywhere. It happens because other people’s emotions are just as real as our own. Whether it’s petty or painful, drama happens when unexpected circumstances hit and we’re unprepared to handle them.

So how are you meant to navigate drama of that kind? It’s important to pray, to yield to the knowledge that you’re not alone and that you’re capable in Christ. Don’t be moved by what you see in front of you. Don’t be moved by how it hurts or by what you don’t have. Don’t be moved by a door that hasn’t opened yet. While life is a flurry of different seasons and emotions, you can be immovable!

The Drama that We Create

When we come up against people with different personalities, carrying their own set of expectations, values, beliefs, and baggage, drama is bound to happen! Though just being around people is sometimes enough to elicit drama, sometimes drama can be self-inflicted. External things will trigger our beliefs or values, and drama ensues. We can find ourselves getting worked up over petty situations, but if drama consistently finds us, it might be worth asking why.

First of all, stop placing yourself where you don’t belong! Sometimes we bring on a lot of drama because we’re in other folks’ business. Whose business are we not supposed to be in? Mind your own business. Do your own job. “Yeah, but these folks at work just—” Mind your business. Stay where you’re supposed to stay; focus on what you’re supposed to focus on. By doing this, you can avoid other people’s drama.

Secondly, know your limitations. Be cautious if you’re a sponge. Ask yourself, “Do I have an ability to feel empathy for others without being overwhelmed?” Can you be present with proper boundaries? I’m not saying to be aloof, distant, uncaring, or unconcerned; I’m saying not to take other people’s drama into your heart. God is their source and their answer, not you.

Conclusion

So many of you are exhausted by the never-ending carousel of drama, up and down, round and round, over and over again. While it’s a part of life, you can be free of needless, continual drama. I encourage you to move out of the way and slip over to the sidelines. Don’t be a person who thrives on drama because drama will feed on you, too. Prayer will always be able to do more than your worry or emotions, and God is better able to handle your problems and everyone else’s, too. So deal with drama today!