By Phil Wiggins, National FOP Chaplain
One morning while sitting in my study, I listen to the rain as it hit the roof, and watching out the window as the droplets were sparkling on the leaves. I thought how peaceful and calm, all was right in our world. Then my mind would shift to just a few nights ago at my local police department, where many officers had been called back to work, because of threats of violence and protest. This came with long hours at work over several days for many of them. This was playing out all over the country.
Officers having to gear up to go out to try to prevent damage to property, sitting and waiting, in addition to being away from their family. The sound of protesters screaming and chanting could be heard inside the building. I knew all was no all right in our city or around the world.
If we are to keep our emotional health intact we need to learn to control what we can control, and trust God for the rest.
Reading the Bible is a great source in guiding us in making good choices and decisions, because God is active in our mental, spiritual, and emotional health. The Bible tells us in Philippians 4:6ff to “pray about everything, tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience Gods peace. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”
When you encounter something out of your control, you can turn it over to God and trust him to work it out for good.
Pastor Rick Warren stated in one of his sermons, “It’s easy to go to extremes with this. For instance, you can say it’s all up to God an become passive to the point where you do nothing. On the other hand, you can act like God doesn’t play a part in your life and assume everything depends on you.”
We need to be careful to find the proper balance so we can find that good physical, emotional and spiritual health that works for us. There are some things in this world that we have no control over, so we need to recognize what is in our control. We find that through wise counsel, bible study and prayer.
Over the past several months we certainly have discovered what we don’t have control of and that is the Coronavirus pandemic, government and how other people will respond.
You may not be able to control many things in your lives, but you can choose how you will respond. You have that choice to choose what is right and just. That is your call. God is always there to help you make those decisions.
