“Breathe. Calm down and unclench your jaw,” I talk to myself trying to slow my racing heart and tightness of my entire being. I feel like I may be trying to solve the whole world’s problems by grinding and pressing my molars together as hard as I can. A great way to unwind after a long day. So far it hasn’t done much other than the gift of a giant headache. I don’t know about you but more often than I would like to admit, I’m winning the game of high blood pressure more than peace. I wish high blood pressure was rewarded. Alas I only get a bunch of vitamins and fish oil.
This year has been a fun time to lead. Yes, sarcasm is highly intended with that statement. Every decision is unpopular. Every person is triggered, and I don’t know about you but I need one day without a new “gift” to drop this year. No corona, no murder hornets, no elections, no bubonic plague found in squirrels. I’m quite done with 2020 surprises and I’m sure you are too.
If you are struggling with peace during this time, try these 3 things.
Examine the Fruit
A lack of peace is fruit. Just like peace is fruit (Gal 5:22-23), meaning it’s a byproduct of following and relying on God or not. Often when we lose our peace we focus on our circumstances around us. For example my rant against 2020 surprises above. However, if peace is a byproduct of surrender to the Spirit of God in us then it has little to do with the rona, hornets, and even the plague. Instead of looking at what is going on around us we should examine what we are believing that is causing our responses. Take some time and pray about what you are believing that is causing you stress.
Give God Control and Gain Peace
I have really good ideas about the way things should go. In fact they are so good that I want God to follow my lead. Pretty ridiculous when I write it down, however, it’s kind of true. I like to try and control a lot of things that are beyond my control and put off doing the things that I can control.
I have found that I’m not alone in trying to control the world. Stop by any social media for two seconds and it’s filled with right people tearing down the wrong group. We do a poor imitation of an all knowing all seeing God. When I lose my peace I notice that a lot of time I’m playing a part I was never meant to play. Though possibly well meaning are you trying to play a part you aren’t designed to play? Most often the answer for me is yes. There is very little that I actually control and acknowledging it helps me to have peace because God’s got a lot more than I do, so I can breathe easy when my hands are off the wheel.
Presence
I don’t like the present very often. I kind of live with a third of my mind on the past, a third on the future, and a third on the present. It is a terrible cocktail. I can’t figure out my future, but man I want to know. I can’t redo the past. Maybe it can explain why I am the way I am though. Visiting the past to get healing is great. Casting a vision of the future is awesome. However, when we stay in either of those places we lose the beauty God wants to do in the now. When you lose your peace ask yourself what time period am I thinking about? Usually for me it’s not now. If you are wandering off of the moment, take some time and look at the beauty God has made around you. Slow down and soak in this very moment.
Looking at the root, controlling what you can control, and living in the present with God is a recipe for peace. It’s easy to slip in any of these areas. Be kind to yourself as you learn to trust God more with the parts of your life that don’t make sense. I often pray, “Lord I believe, help me to believe.”
What returns peace to your soul?