Peace of mind is achievable--with God
Peace of mind seems to be one of the rarest commodities on Earth, but it is achievable.
Millions of single people don't have inner peace because they've put their happiness on "hold" until they get married. But the clock keeps ticking for all of us, and why postpone peace to some time in the distant future when you can have it now?
If we put too much pressure on ourselves in the dating scene, that can ruin our peace, too. Every date, every relationship becomes a life-or-death, he's-the-one or she's-the-one proposition. Yikes! No peace there.
Where peace of mind doesn't come from
Think about it for a moment. Objectively.
Peace of mind doesn't come from money, does it? Look at all the celebrities who are millionaires yet have become drug addicts, alcohol abusers, and are constantly jumping in and out of marriage.
You can live in a mansion and be miserable, or you can live in a shack and be happy. Money only solves the problem of things that money can buy, but it can't purchase deep, inner fulfillment.
Achievement is not the path to peace either. More often than not, this road only leads to constantly trying to "top" yourself, until you reach the limit of your abilities. Then, inevitably, someone else comes along and does better than you did. Sports records are a prime example.
Marks in a record book, monuments, and big accomplishments provide no comfort when you're battling inner loneliness.
Good looks don't bring personal peace, because they inevitably fade with time. A person who tries to deny aging with endless plastic surgeries is not peaceful; they're pathetic.
Stop looking at yourself
If you want peace of mind, stop looking at yourself and start looking at Jesus Christ.
His unconditional love for you never fails. It never grows weaker. It never deserts you when times get tough. He's completely, 100% reliable.
He offers you eternal life--salvation--so you don't have to fret about what will happen to you when you die. How big a worry is that off your mind?
Obedience to Christ guarantees that you're doing the right thing. You never have to lie awake at night wondering whether you made the right decision.
Even if your choice seemed wrong or foolish in the world's eyes, God will redeem it and turn it for your good. Whew! Another load off!
Following Christ's teachings to love your neighbor as yourself fosters kindness and compassion. You get in far fewer arguments and disputes. No second thoughts about mean words or actions toward other people.
Yeah, but how?
If you're a Christian and have accepted the truth that only Christ can bring you peace of mind, you may still be plagued by anxiety and turmoil. How can you put your faith into action to live in spiritual calmness?
It's a two-fold path. First, have faith that God is good on his word and that he will take care of you the way he says he will in the Bible, and second, develop the habit of dumping all your troubles at Jesus's feet. That's exactly what he wants you to do:
Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. (1 Peter 5:7)
Yes, easier said than done, I know, but those are the keys to peace of mind.
The survival test
Every time I have a crisis (and I've had quite a few in my lifetime), I think, "Oh no! I'm never going to make it through this. This will be the end for sure." I pray, I try to have faith in God and to the best of my meager ability, I try to turn it over to him. With his help, I manage to survive.
He generously makes up for my shortcomings and mustard-seed-sized faith. And again he helps me get through another catastrophe.
You'd think I would've learned by now.
Mark Twain once said, "I am an old man and have had many troubles, most of which never happened." Well, Twain was hardly an example for Christians, but there's solid truth in that statement.
If we want peace of mind, we have to give up control and hand the steering wheel over to God. He's a more experienced driver than us anyway. We're safe when he's behind the wheel, even though we still have the urge to tell him where to turn.
When you're so fed up with what doesn't work, you'll finally give up and give God a chance.
Don't be dumb like I was. Don't keep fumbling around with it most of your life. Do it now.
Jesus really does have your best interests at heart. Having faith in God and turning your life over to him is the price for peace of mind. And I can tell you from my own experience that it's the best bargain you'll ever get.
Hope leads to peace of mind
Without hope, you're a ship without a compass. Where you're headed is only a guess.
Hope gives you motivation, that all-important drive that makes you want to get out of bed in the morning and start your day. Hope turns life from drudgery into an adventure.
Hope for Hurting Singles will show you how to successfully address such challenges as loneliness, fear, shyness, depression, rejection, and anxiety. You'll see why your future is something to look forward to.
But this is practical, real-world stuff, based on the author's 45+ years in the single life. NO, it's not an autobiography. It's a guidebook to making wiser decisions, a crash course in how to anticipate consequences so life goes smoother.
For $10.99 in paperback and $3.99 for the Kindle version, Hope for Hurting Singles may be the best choice you make all year!
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