We lose our peace of mind for four reasons:
(1) We try to change the people in our lives. As you grow wiser you begin to realize that you can’t change other people, only God can! And He does, when you back off, and love them as they are. This doesn’t mean agreeing with everything they do. It means committing to love them regardless, claiming God’s promises on their behalf and allowing Him to deal with them His way, in His time and for His glory. The reason you are stressed out may be because you keep trying to do something-about something you can’t do anything about!
(2) We try to make things happen when it’s not the right time. ‘There is a time for everything’ (Ecclesiastes 3:1 NIV). If you have raised children you know that one of their chief characteristics is impatience; they can’t wait for anything. God wants us to outgrow our childishness so He makes us wait, trust, and mature!
(3) We get upset because we are not progressing fast enough. You can slow down your spiritual growth through neglect, but ultimately, ‘We all are being changed [by] the Spirit’ (2 Corinthians 3:18 NCV). So learn to enjoy your life while God works on your problems, for you will always have problems!
(4) We push ourselves harder and harder. We do what we think God wants without consulting Him as to what He actually wants, when He wants it, or how He wants it done. As a result we wear ourselves out. What is the solution? ‘You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is [focused] on You, because he trusts in You.’
