There are saints and martyrs who were beheaded with a greater peace than I have sometimes when someone cuts me off on the freeway, or my teenager is running late for school! If I find someone is driving me crazy, the problem isn’t that person. It’s me.
Whenever someone disturbs your inner peace, take a moment to consider why they have so much control over your emotional state. Jesus showed us on the way to Calvary that no one can take your hope, joy, or peace. No one can make you act or feel anything! When Jesus reigns in our hearts and minds, we don’t hand over that kind of power to any human being. So if you’re letting someone drive you crazy today, maybe God is telling you to take stock of where you are placing your hope, joy, or peace. Is it in him? Or is in your spouse? Your friend? Your circumstances?
Saint Paul wrote from prison, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. Then the peace that surpasses understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” Let that be your prayer in the moments you feel yourself allowing others to control your emotional state. Allow the peace the surpasses understanding to guard your hearts and minds in Jesus’ name.
