Chill Out! 3 Keys to Relaxing in the Craziness of Life

 

“Instead of trying to fit this day into a preconceived mold, relax and be on the lookout for what I am doing. This mind-set will free you to enjoy Me and to find what I have planned for you to do. This is far better than trying to make things go according to your own plan.”
(Sarah Young, Jesus Calling)*

Such insightful and beneficial words for us, for when you are stressed out, it’s hard to enjoy life.

I used to be so hyper! Always rushing about life; flustered with the littlest things. My husband, Ed, on the other hand, was much more easy-going. He would often say, “Would you just chill, Rose?!

That’s a lot easier said than done! Gratefully, God has helped me to relax in increasing measure. Want to know how? Here are…

3 Keys to Relaxing in the Craziness of Life

Key #1 Quiet your heart

You and I need to learn to quiet our hearts; not to be in a constant state of hurriedness. This requires patience—a lifelong pursuit for me (and probably many of you). We have to learn how to lose our IMpatience, not our patience.

Key #2 Let God be in control

You and I have to stop trying to control things. God is the One in control. We must trust that His way is indeed best, far better than ours. He has the power to maintain things in perfect order. Why in the world are we trying to spin all those plates when He knows how to keep each of them from falling and breaking?

Key #3 Understand your makeup and submit it to the Lord

Some of us are just high energy individuals. That’s me to a “T.” Ed was much more laid back. And there’s nothing wrong with either temperament.

I am also a doer. The word lazy is not in my vocabulary. I get a lot of things done, I am motivated, and I even don’t mind exercising. Do I have to change those things in order to become more relaxed? Gratefully not! What’s the answer then?

Let God manage our makeup; submit all of who we are—the good, the bad, and the ugly—over to God. I simply cannot manage myself in a good way, let alone in a Christ-like way.

I was so happy to discover that when the Bible says, “Be still, and know that I am God” (Ps 46:10), it didn’t mean I had to literally stop moving! That means I can still walk quickly and have a quiet heart, trusting in my Lord to accomplish His purposes. This is freeing to me—I hope it is for you as well!

So my friends, I know I’ve barely touched the surface on these issues. Each of these keys requires multiple layers of understanding and applying. God will teach you—if you let Him.

I don’t have my husband anymore to keep me calm. I have Someone even better—my heavenly Husband. He reminds me, gives me pertinent truths in the heat of the moment, calms my heart with His incomprehensible peace, and enables me to just rest in Him.

Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him. (Ps 62:5)

I have set the LORD always before me.
Because he is at my right hand,
I will not be shaken.
Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices;
my body also will rest secure. (Ps 16:8-9)

Hear your Abba Father speak these words to you:

My daughter, do not be anxious about anything. Relax. When you begin to feel hyper, come to Me with your stress. Thank Me for what you have and what I am doing. My peace will keep you calm. Rest in Me. I will keep you in perfect peace if your mind stays on Me. And my daughter, a quiet spirit is of great worth in My sight! (See Phil 4:6-7, Is 26:3, 1 Pet 3:4)

Relevant blogs:
How to be More Patient blog series
Are You Too Busy? Let God Be Your Plate-Spinner

*Sarah Young, Jesus Calling, (Nashville, Tn: Thomas Nelson, 2004), 79.

All Scripture quotations are taken from The Holy Bible: New International Version®. NIV. ® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved.