My friend and I were having a conversation about our recent breakups and our faiths. He is going through a very similar situation, and we were discussing how your Higher Power can really make things happen for you.

I told him a story I told very few people. When my ex was out of town pursuing a music venture last month, I prayed. Among many things, I prayed that he was thinking of me and missing me. I ended up crying over this. The next day, he called. At this point, it was the first time he called just to chat (after the breakup). He even implied that things weren’t the same without my being there to support him and cheer him on. I tried to play it cool, but I couldn’t believe how God made that happen for me. It gave me such joy and strength.

Granted, things haven’t progressed down that road since then. But then, maybe that’s not what is meant for me at this time.

The problem is you don’t realize things are happening for you. Sometimes, you get exactly for what you were hoping. Other times, you can be down on your knees begging for something, and it may never come. Your Higher Power — whether that be God, the universe, whatever — knows what’s best for you. You have no idea.

Time is the most frustrating variable in the experiment we call life. In order to prove the hypothesis that everything happens for a reason, we must only wait. Maybe he or she will come back to you, and you’ll be together for the rest of your lives. Maybe he or she isn’t coming back, but you find the happiness you were looking for because of their absence. You won’t know until it happens. 

My old neighbor reminded me that sometimes when you’re running, your shadow is right in front of you. No matter how fast you sprint, you will never catch it. As soon as you turn your back, your shadow will be trying to catch up with you. When you stop forcing, things will happen for you. Your Higher Power will make sure of it.

Another very important factor in learning to cope comes from forgiveness. One theme of the sermon in church last Sunday is that you can’t move on without forgiving. Forgive whomever has wronged you. Therein lies your peace.

Say you’ve experienced something similar to what I’m going through. It’s a month later, and you still are devastated that the monumental love you had is gone. As I mentioned, there was no bad guy…nobody to blame or persecute. What are you supposed to forgive? Well, forgive the situation. Forgive the decisions you both made. Don’t dwell on how everything might be different if you just… Forgive yourself. Just forgive.

You can be happy if you let yourself. Ask for help from your Higher Power and forgive; you will see results.