“Let the peace of Christ [the inner calm of one who walks daily with Him] be the controlling factor in your hearts [deciding and settling questions that arise]. To this peace indeed you were called as members in one body [of believers]. And be thankful [to God always].” Colossians 3:15 AMP

Today is a day when my cup feels empty. I am very cognizant of the plethora of blessings in my life, all of which bring a great deal of love and gratitude to my heart. Like so many I know, I am doing my best to live my life in a way that adds good to the world around me. And just like everyone else, it can be very difficult to feel as though I am truly contributing to the degree of which I am actually capable.

Sometimes life seems like one giant traffic jam. We’re all moving along, bumper to bumper, trying to pay close enough attention so that we don’t smack into the bumper in front of us, yet making every effort we can to distract ourselves from the seemingly endless road ahead. Our patience is tested repeatedly in our interactions with other drivers, periods of absolute stagnation where everything is at a standstill, and limited visibility that prevents us from getting an idea of how much longer it is going to take us to get to the next period of forward motion.

Patience is what is required during the traffic jams of life. If we give in to our inner-road rage, we will undoubtedly say things we would never even consider uttering in more peaceful circumstances. We are drawn into making snap decisions out of that anger which stems from impatience, and rarely will that take us down the path God intended us to follow. That doesn’t mean He can’t lead us back to where we are meant to be, but we have to be able to swallow our pride, set aside our anger, and give ourselves over to Him in even the smallest moments of decision.

“And let endurance have its perfect result and do a thorough work, so that you may be perfect and completely developed [in your faith], lacking in nothing.” James 1:4 AMP

My words are few this morning, but the weight of my message is significant. Choose peace, my friends. Don’t allow the road rage of life to drive you down paths you were never meant to follow. Trust that God knows best, loves you more than you can possibly imagine, and will always bring you exactly what you need at exactly the right time. You can’t control the behavior and choices of other people, but every choice and every action you take belongs to you and you alone. When God brings blessings to your life, don’t be afraid to accept them. They are being given to you intentionally, and they will serve a purpose, but only if you accept them.