Magnificent! Yes—and a model for us. How do we react when meanness and malice link arms to create misery? How do we cope when we become objects of a vendetta, finding ourselves surrounded by people who want to pull us down? How do I, as an author, handle contemptuous reviews of my books? From Paul’s example we learn that even at such times joy and peace are possible. We do not have to react as others want us to react. To a greater extent than we may yet have realized, we can choose what to think about (see 4:8). If we focus our mind on joy-inducing facts, we become impervious to those who would plunge us into misery, however great their hostility, however strong their influence, and however little we can do about them at present.
God’s Plans for you. Pg. 113