Finding Peace in Chaos – Part Four
This post is fourth in a series.
Click here to read Part One: Finding Peace in Chaos
Click here to read Part Two: The Number One Way to Find Peace
Click here to read Part Three: Finding Peace by Identifying What’s Most Important
It was the middle of the night in August of 2021. I was wide awake. It was the latest trend in my mental health journey where I was very anxious and stressed. My mind was racing with so many thoughts and sleep was miles away.
It’s ironic that I don’t recall the source of so much anxiety that night, but I remember my next thought as clearly as if it were last night. I thought, “I have absolutely no control over this situation. Why am I giving it so much power and emotional control over me?” A few days later, still stressing over the same situation, I decided to start seeing a therapist in counseling.
In this series we are exploring ways to find Jesus amid life’s busyness and how to embrace His perfect peace when life feels completely chaotic. The first tool we discussed was knowing and surrendering to Jesus, our Prince of Peace. The second tool was learning how to prioritize the right things in our lives and saying no to everything else.
The third tool that helps me embrace peace in chaos is letting go of things that are out of my control. This tool is much easier to implement when I’ve consistently been practicing the first two tools. In other words, when I’m daily surrendered to Jesus, seeking His guidance in what to prioritize and when to say no, I have much better success relinquishing things that are out of my control.
Over the years I’ve found myself stressed out about many things that were out of my control. A few that come to mind are my kids admission to our preferred school, my autoimmune disorder, a major health diagnosis of a loved one, traffic and even the weather. As I’ve worked through some of these, I’ve learned not only do I need to relinquish my tight grasp and desire to control the outcomes in these situations, but more importantly, I need to yield control over them to Jesus.
1 Peter 5:7 says, “Cast all your worries on Him because He cares for you.” I’m not just giving up or letting go and hoping the universe has my back. No! I’m surrendering my cares, my anxieties, my worries to God, the creator of the universe, who knows and loves me… and you too!
When I’m stressed about my kids getting into the right school, or making the right decisions, or earning the best grade, I have to trust that God loves them even more than I do. He wants what’s best for them. His plans may not be what I thought was needed, but His plans are always perfect. Can I trust God to guide my boys on their own journeys?
When I’m stressed about my own health or the health of a loved one, can I trust God to direct me to the right treatments, trusting Him with the results? Or better yet, can I trust Him for complete healing in His perfect timing?
When I find myself anxious about seemingly trivial things like the traffic or the weather, will I trust God is orchestrating all things for my good (Romans 8:28)? Will I trust the God who has control over the winds and the rains (Matthew 8:27)? Will I trust the One who knows the number of hairs on my head and knows every thought before I’ve had it (Matthew 10:29-31, Psalm 139:1-4)? Do I believe He is able to work all details of my seemingly mundane life together for my good and His glory?
So, when I find my stress levels creeping higher over situations that are out of my control, I ask myself, “Can God be trusted in this situation? Is God big enough, loving enough, knowledgeable enough to handle this scenario?” The answer is always yes!
Don’t just let go of what is out of your control. Yield your control to Jesus whose love for you is immeasurable, who cares about every detail of your life and who can’t wait to show you the miracles He has planned for you. Will you trust Him?