So unless you have been living under a rock lately, you are aware
that the Power Ball jackpot reached over a BILLION (yes with a B) dollars
recently. Everyone on TV and online was
talking about buying tickets and getting into pools and of course what they
would do with the money if they won. I
am not exempt in that dream however I knew 100% I wouldn’t win because I don’t
play the lottery. I am not saying I
never have but I just choose not to as part of my beliefs. I won’t go into detail about how I came to
that conclusion it’s just what it is.
However, in my daydream, I had privately decided that I would keep
a large portion of the money for myself but would give a very large portion to
friends, loved ones and to charities that I support. I am sure this is similar to what many others
would do. I imagined the looks on the recipient’s
faces as I gave them the news that their house was now paid off, or their kids
had a college fund or their rescue was now fully funded, etc.
I had such a sense of warmth thinking about how I would never again
have to worry about having enough money or losing my home or car, etc. and how
my friends would be able to have anything they wanted and never have to wonder “what
if?” While my tastes are not necessarily
for glamorous or expensive items, it would be the peace of knowing that I didn’t
have to “worry” anymore. Now, we all
know this is a joke. There are many
wealthy people who have worries. So was
it really the money I was hoping for or the peace that I imaged would come with
it?
Isn’t peace
something we all chase? Those who use
drugs, alcohol, food or other substances or activities to remove the stress of
their lives? Could a large lottery win
really bring us the peace we seek? Or…would
more money and more stuff give us more stress to deal with?
The next time you read through Facebook or anything really online, look at the headlines and see how many have to do with finding peace or stopping stress, etc. It’s amazing! Now think about when in your life you are or have been peaceful. Yes, there have been times when it has happened after my bills were paid up for the month but life is full of unexpected interruptions. No matter how organized we are (and I am NOT) we can never be prepared for everything that may come up in our lives. Inevitably loved ones will get sick or cars will break.
Peace is a moving
target unless you get real peace. This
is not the peace that we perceive money can bring. It’s only through God that you get a peace
that cannot be shaken. I wish I could say
that I have achieved this peace but I have not.
Well that is not true. I have
experienced times of this peace but have lost it. I am studying how to deepen my faith in order
to achieve and keep the peace of God.
I find that as soon as I wrap
myself too deeply into myself that is when I lose my peace. The more I focus on helping others and
meeting their needs the more peaceful I become.
However that being said, I have also reached the point where I gave more
of myself than I have and then I have become stressed and resentful. Finding that balance and being aware of your
own limits is the important part. Here
are a few bible verses that remind me to trust God and stay close to Him and
therefore remain more peaceful.
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