Want Inner Peace? Accept What You Cannot Change and Change What You Can!

“Live a life worthy of the calling you have received” Ephesians 4:1

It’s Christmas! Which expression on the face of these typical kids most represents your feelings at Christmas? Will you end up counting what you got, or what you didn’t get? Enjoying inner peace—or feeling hurt and neglected? I’ve experienced both!
 
Alcoholics Anonymous teaches its members what they call the Serenity Prayer—or how to be content!
 

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.       

 
Advice that is both wise and honors what Scripture teaches us as followers of Christ.
 
ACCEPT what you cannot change:
LOOK at what you can change and do something about it!
 
Because Discontent rears its head in everyone’s life for various reasons, here are a few examples where you can pray for God’s direction and change a situation in your life.
 

• MONEY.  Paul stated he was content whether he had much or little. That doesn’t come naturally, but it can and does come by God’s Spirit working in us.

 
If you’re struggling financially, what change steps are you willing to take?
To reduce your expenditures: list all your out-go. Prioritize what expenses you could eliminate or reduce. Every bit of savings adds up and it all helps.
To increase your income: Brainstorm your skills, your free time, ask for a raise, seek a higher paying job, get more training, step out and risk. Taking no action keeps you stuck!
 

• HUMAN LONGINGS. How do we cope when we long for a godly spouse, a child, a close friend? Do we repress our longings? Rage at God? Resent friends who have what we want? In Genesis 2:18 God says it’s not good for anyone to go through life alone. But He wasn’t saying that marriage and a family are in his plan for everyone.  We are created to love and give love, to be touched, hugged, warmly greeted. But marriage is not always how that is experienced.

LONELINESS IS UNHEALTHY ON MANY LEVELS.
MANY WOMEN ARE ALONE TODAY. SOME NEVER MARRY, SOME ARE DIVORCED, OTHERS ARE WIDOWED. REGARDLESS OF YOUR PERSONAL STATUS, ALL OF US NEED FRIENDS!

Close friendships also help us cope better with personal tragedies and hard times.

If you’re lonely and want someone to do things with, don’t settle for staying home alone. You must act and change what you can. Say Hi at church, go to events, invite someone to go for lunch or coffee, be friendly.

What action can you take this week to begin changing your situation?

WHAT ABOUT THE LONGING TO HAVE A CHILD? A single friend volunteered to cuddle little ones in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit.  Others become big sisters, or mentors, or volunteers in schools or their churches.  You can find avenues to safely cuddle little ones, delight in them, and be a loving person in their lives. 

Do you know someone who is involved with children?  Ask them to share their experiences with you.  Every child needs a caring, safe adult in their lives.
 
Could you serve God by giving time and love to a child who needs someone like you?
 
NONE OF US GETS EVERY WISH OR LONGING FULFILLED IN OUR LIVES—AND GRIEVING THE LOSS OF A DREAM IS PAINFUL—BUT PERHAPS GOD, IN HIS WISDOM AND LOVE, IS GIVING YOU A BLESSING (AND MAKING YOU A BLESSING) IN WAYS YOU HAVE NEVER THOUGHT OF. 

Amy Carmichael, a missionary, and author who spent decades crippled in India, wrote:

“In acceptance lies peace.”

In life’s hard places, this is where inner peace is found.

May you know God’s gift of inner peace and celebrate His special love for you this Christmas.

Poppy