Finding Peace in the Uncontrollable
ICS Daily Devotions

Philippians 4:4-7 (NKJV) Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

While we can survive without water for a time before dying of thirst, it is difficult to live without hope and God in this world. Some people take their own lives because they see no hope in their situation. Taking one’s own life is a sin. What leads a person to attempt or contemplate suicide has to do with their predominant thoughts. Therefore, we must guard against negative and destructive thoughts. Christians should not entertain the thought of suicide or engage in self-harm, because our bodies are bought with the blood of Jesus Christ and belong to God. We have hope, faith, and love in Him. Nonetheless, as Christians, we need to grow from spiritual infancy to maturity over time so that we will not think like the world but experience peace in our lives.

All of us would like our problems and challenges to be resolved quickly. We will naturally try to use our abilities to resolve them, but often they are simply beyond our reach, especially when they require others to change, because everyone is given the authority to make decisions. While we can pray for them, ultimately everyone must decide for themselves. Therefore, we should not beat ourselves up over the choices other people make. There is no point being anxious about matters that are beyond our control.

The Serenity Prayer* reads: God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference.

While we cannot change other people or certain situations, we can change ourselves in our attitude, character, and personality, and in our submission to the Lordship of Christ and to the authorities placed above us. It takes courage and humility to make the necessary, and at times painful, changes. For example, if we are always upset with others or feel they have offended us, we should learn to be more gracious, merciful, and forgiving. In this way, we grow to be more like Christ, less critical of others, and less inclined to need the last word, the limelight, and constant affirmation from men. We will also be happier, healthier, and stronger. When we allow the fruit of the Spirit to flow through us, we will be known for our gentleness rather than for aggressiveness, irrationality, and rudeness when we are under stress. The joy of the Lord and the constant ability to rejoice in all circumstances should be the hallmark of every Christian.

Reflection: What challenges or problems are beyond your control, and how can you respond in thought and action to experience God’s peace?

*Commonly attributed to Reinhold Niebuhr