I encourage you to stop now and make your own list of the ones you find most common in your life.
Now look at your list and ask yourself, “Is there anything I can do about these?” Sometimes there are practical solutions, steps we can take to head them off at the pass. For instance, do you lose your peace when you find yourself running late for work? Make a change and start getting up a little earlier. Can’t figure out what to wear…and then end up running late? Start picking out your clothes the night before. Find yourself feeling overwhelmed? Create a peaceful environment…turn off the TV, put the barking dog in his crate for a while, institute a quiet time when the kids must read or play in their rooms for an hour. We are responsible for creating and maintaining our peace and this takes being proactive.
If you find that there are some things on your list that you can do nothing about you simply have to make a choice. When you can’t prevent it say, “Well, I know God has a plan for this.” And go on. There may be a very good reason. If you find yourself stuck in traffic or trapped behind the slow driver (who in NOVA is likely riding in the left lane) it could be that by running behind you avoided a wreck. If your alarm doesn’t go off (or in your groggy state you accidentally hit the off button instead of the snooze) just trust that God knew you needed the extra rest. There’s nothing you can do about it now, but a positive attitude can get you right back on track whereas a negative one can throw off your entire day.
Peace is a choice. You and I must choose to hold onto our peace. Accept the things you can’t do anything about. Remember that “all things work together for good for those who love the Lord and are called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28) Say, “Here you go, God. It’s all you.” And let it go! Take a deep breath, and step back into your life.
By choosing to put your life in the Lord’s hands you can run your life instead of your life running over you!
