Gratefulنموونە

Let's be honest for a second here. Hard times can function like a shop-vac and suck the joy out of life. It really can!

Think of a time when you woke up, and it felt like you were a character in a Disney movie. The sun was shining, and the birds were singing. You made it to school with plenty of time to spare, and thought, "Today is going to be a great day!"

Then it happens.

Sitting at your desk during the first period, your least favorite teacher utters your least favorite words: "it's time for a pop quiz" – and you bomb it. Instantly, your stomach drops, and you feel sick to your stomach. So what do you do?

Do you throw your hands up in the air, head to bed for the night, and give up? Makes sense. What if you took a different route? This is actually a perfect opportunity to refocus your mind on the reality that God is present, and understands all you're going through.

Philippians 4:4–7 remind us not to be anxious, but to be thankful; to not be worried, but to talk to God about what's bothering us.

Why should that be our approach when things go wrong? Because if it is, God will give us peace that passes all understanding.