For many years after my decision to follow Christ I was still greatly influenced by circumstances and other people. I kept thinking that if I could change my environment, I would be free from stress. The Lord never let that happen. No matter where I went or what I did, the conditions were always demanding because I wanted to please others more than I wanted to please Him. It wasn’t until I realized that it didn’t matter what my environment was like as long as God was my primary focus. Now I can enjoy His peace in the midst of chaos by keeping Him in the center of my thoughts. Whenever I find myself under the influence of any kind of pressure, stress or tension, I can escape it by withdrawing inwardly and enjoy being in the Lord’s presence. Whatever happens in my surroundings has no bearing on my moment to moment communion with Him. Nothing can separate me from His love.
“How can you believe if you accept praise from one another, yet make no effort to obtain the praise that comes from the only God?”
John 5:44
“I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Romans 8:38-39