Living in Peace

Do you ever stop to think about what living in the will of God really means? If you're a praying person you pray it often "thy will be done," but do we really mean it? Do I really mean it?

There's an old saying that says "pray as if it depends on God, work as if it depends on you." Unfortunately too many times I don't do either of those things, but instead I worry as if it depends on me. That things will mostly only ever work out if I worry about them. Needlessly. Endlessly. Why isn't prayer my go-to option always? It should be my first plan of action, not my last resort.

The thing about God's will is -- when you're totally living in it, that's when you're living in peace. I think, to me, that is the definition of peace that is easiest for me to understand. I don't think I've quite ever felt that type of peace, but I think I have a better idea of where to look for it, how to find it.

I know that life is not easy all the time for anyone. We all go through periods of sadness, anger, heartbreak, pain, disaster. But I believe that, for the  most part, God intends for us to live our lives joyfully. REALLY live our lives. Not just survive our lives, getting through them every day where things are just fine. But to seek out His will for us and live in that will. Whatever that will is, that's where peace and happiness and joy really are.

So I have to wonder... why do so many people seem unhappy or like they are searching for something? And I think the answer to that is fear. We are afraid to move. We are afraid to change, to take some sort of action. What if I end up hating my new career path? What if I can't hack it in graduate school? What if I fail?

My good friend asked me the other day -- what's the worst that can happen? If the worst thing that can happen is that you fail to find a job in that field or you end up not liking the career path you think you will, then that's not really the worst thing. He also reminded me that God did not give us a spirit of fear, but of peace and love and a sound mind.

Talk to God. Tell Him what you want. Talk to Him all day. Tell him when you're scared, anxious, stressed, in pain, happy, angry, tired. He already knows, but He wants to hear it from you. Be specific with your prayers. Don't just ask God to help you pass this test. Ask God to help you concentrate on studying, not be distracted, organize your notes well and not lose sleep because of anxiety. He wants to hear these things. I need to remind myself that. He wants to hear these things.

For God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
- 2 Timothy 1:7

Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.
- Philippians 4:6