The other day, as I was blowing my hair dry (weird place to get thoughts for blog posts, I know) this sentence came to mind. “Some days you just have to fight for your peace of mind.” I hadn’t slept well that night. Thoughts about the state of our nation and around the world, and just in my own little world, have made everyday living stressful.

Last month we were without air conditioning for a whole 10 days. There are so many reasons why it took 10 days to fix but the time and the money caused a lot of stress Also, being without air conditioning in South Florida in August is miserable. Additionally, I’ve tried to stay out of stores and have taken to ordering more online, but things I order keep getting delayed or lost; and, when I do venture out to a store, I find people backing away from me just because I might have gotten a little close to them, and no one talks to each other anymore 😭🤪.

These things might seem pretty trivial to some but when you add everything up, along with the many changes that have happened in our world in the last six months, you find that peace of mind is not is easily found!!!

As I stood in front of the mirror, I felt like God gave me three ways to begin to fight so that peace would return to my spirit:

• I have to fight my emotions. I don’t know about you, but that can be a difficult fight!! I am having to fight back my feelings of anxiety and stress and even anger, so I can think rationally. One of the ways I fight is in prayer and worship. These two together ALWAYS get my emotions back on track!!! My favorite songs right now are “The Blessing” by Kari Jobe and “There’s Nothing that Our God Can’t Do” by Passion & Kristian Stanfill. I put in my earbuds and sing right along and then apply the words in these songs to things I’m worried about.
• I have to fight in my speech. What I mean here is to guard my words. I need to be careful what I say during the day, whether it’s on social media or to the cashier I’m having a hard time understanding because of their mask, or just letting my thoughts fly out of my mouth to whomever happens to be near. I find that having people I can trust, who really know my heart, are the best ones to unload on. And then, there are times when I have to speak to myself, like David did in the Psalms, and remind myself that God is in control!
• Fight with humility. So many times I think I have all the answers and in reality, I am only seeing things through my own glasses. Have you ever tried wearing some else’s glasses? Everything is all blurry or too large or maybe too small. My glasses (contacts in my case) give me clarity of vision but it is still only my perception. Besides, as a Christian I have no rights. My rights are what His will is. If I have given my life to Him, then I have to know He is fighting for me, and He will win in the end. Allowing Him to rule in my thoughts and speech can be very humbling. That is a fight most days. I have to be careful to only fight the battle He is fighting. Peace comes when I obey.

This verse in Psalms 34:14 NLT helps me see this principle of fighting for peace: “Turn away from evil and do good. Search for peace, and work to maintain it.” Search and work. Peace has to be found and it’s work to keep it. Peter even quoted this verse in I Peter 3:11 NLT. He was addressing Christians! As I read the whole chapter in I Peter, I see he is really telling us how to be happy, content and full of peace.

As we fight our battle for peace (and a good night’s sleep) I know we will enjoy the rewards of living in a place of peace during this time of turmoil!