The Stressless LifeSample

Day Seven: When Life Falls Apart: How Do I Keep God’s Peace in Circumstances beyond My Control? 191

Scripture: Mark 4:36-41, Amos 4:13, John 5:17

Much of what we’ve covered in recent days applies to circumstances within our control. We’ve seen how to remove stressors from our schedules, our relationships, and our decisions. By doing what we can in these areas, we reduce the amount of stress in our lives and open ourselves more fully to experience God’s peace.

But what about circumstances in which we have no control? How do we maintain a stressless life when it seems like everything around us is falling apart? The answer begins with a shift in focus.

Many different factors can cause us to feel out of control in our lives. Some of those factors are global in scale, others are more limited to our individual lives. Whatever the cause, the way we handle ourselves when circumstances get out of control—including the amount of stress we endure—is directly connected to our focus in those moments.

So then, what’s the right focus when circumstances have gone beyond our control? The answer is to focus not on the circumstance and not on ourselves but on God—to focus on the One who possesses the necessary resources to solve the problem.

There’s a great picture of these different focuses found in Mark 4 where Jesus calms the sea. His disciples greatly feared because their focus was the storm. Jesus rebuked them because He wanted to change their focus. “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?” (v. 40). He wanted them to recognize who was in the boat with them. He wanted them to look up and see that if Jesus was sleeping peacefully, they could take comfort in His peace.

Our circumstances do not shape the way we view our God; our God shapes the way we view our circumstances. I know that principle can be a source of hope in your life, even in the most difficult of times. Our God is active, our God is sovereign, and our God is personal. And because those things are true, you can have peace when circumstances seem out of control.

In fear, you may ask, “Where is God right now? Why isn’t He doing anything?” Trust God’s character to be at work in all things. God is active in your life specifically. He acts in power and wisdom, and He’s present with you no matter what you endure.