October 8, 2021
You are responsible for your own happiness.
You say, “Well, Jeff, I would stay in peace, but these people – these people really get on my nerves.”
You can’t control what other people do, but you can control what you do. If you let them upset you, you’re giving away your power and letting them control you.
Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Don’t let you heart be troubled or afraid.” (John 14:27)
In other words, it’s not all up to you. Your patience. Your peace. Jesus is giving you His peace, His patience. So, He says, “Don’t let your heart become troubled. Don’t let it happen. Use My power to remain calm in times of trouble.”
Do you know what? You don’t have to let the same old things keep upsetting you. Quit telling yourself, “I can’t help it. They just know how to push my buttons.” Try a new approach. Decide ahead of time that you’re going to stay in peace, and you’re going to tap into that power – that Jesus Power – to remain calm.
A man was walking down the street with his friend to get a coffee. They went into the corner coffee shop where the man stopped every morning. The barista behind the counter was as unfriendly as could be. He acted like the man was bothering him!
The man paid for the coffee, smiled, and said, “I hope you have a great day.”
The barista didn’t even acknowledge what he said.
His friend said, “What was wrong with him? Is he always that rude?”
The man said, “Every morning.”
His friend said, “Are you always that nice?”
He said, “Every morning.”
The friend looked puzzled and said, “Why?”
The man replied, “I’ve made up my mind that I’m not going to let another person ruin my day.”
He was saying, “I have my spare tire. I’m not going to allow one pothole to ruin my day. And I’m not going to get stuck in an argument, or be rude back to him, and let him ruin my morning.”
There may be people you see every day who have the gift of getting on your nerves. It feels like they think it’s their calling in life to make you miserable.
The good news is, you’re in control. They can’t make you unhappy unless you allow it. Jesus said, “Don’t let ‘em.” They can’t make you frustrated; it’s your choice. Jesus has already offered to let you tap into His power. He will give you His peace.
Tap into His power to retain your peace.