Serenity requires that you trust God as you never have before

Many singles have convinced themselves that serenity is for other people--that they could never achieve a state of calmness as a way of life.

Yet that's exactly what Jesus wants you to do, and he didn't say that an anxiety-free life is only available to the super-controlled:

"Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?...But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."

I tend to forget that God never asks us to do something we're not capable of. How about you? No matter what he asks us to do, he always equips us with the help we need to carry it out. This truth is repeated over and over with the heroic characters in the Bible.

Quitting before you start

You may think avoiding worry is an impossible task. You've worried so long that you can't force yourself not to, by an act of willpower. You're tempted to give up before you even try.

The key, Jesus said, is to first seek the kingdom of God and his righteousness. What does that mean? Are you supposed to chase after God so much that you don't have time to worry?

I don't think that's it. I think he's telling us to let the kingdom of God--which already exists inside you--rule over you. There's no place for worry when you're a prince or princess of the kingdom of God.

Enemies of your serenity

We singles can work ourselves into a state of anxiety pretty quickly, can't we? I know I've done that to myself many times. We get caught up in our runaway thoughts.

Before we know it, we're a wreck. Whatever peace we did have is gone.

Fear is a common destroyer of our serenity. Some fears are of our own making, others are not. Just as fear can drive out peace, serenity, when cultivated and grown, can eventually drive out fear.

Doubt is a key component of worry. But doubt has no place in the kingdom of God, either.

Why willpower isn't the answer

Let's face it. Most of us are control freaks. We're afraid to put God in charge. We'd rather run things ourselves, even if we know we're not as capable, powerful, or wise.

It's not a matter of getting stronger, though, and of working up more willpower. Willpower can only take us so far. It's a matter of surrender.

Jesus did that. He led the surrendered life. He knew God better than we ever could. He and the Father are one. He understood something we have a hard time accepting:

God is absolutely trustworthy.

That's a truth that we arrive at by degrees. And God is understanding with us.

To the degree that you're willing to surrender, that's how much calm and peace of mind you'll have.

But once you know that the secret to serenity is surrender, you're on your way to achieving it, if even in short spurts. And once you get a small taste of it, you'll want more and more.

Yes, serenity is possible--when you trust God enough to turn the steering wheel over to him, so you can get in the back seat and take a nap, confident that he knows every turn in the road before they even come up.

---

Return to top of serenity page.