Stay Calm, Stay Cool: Calm in the Midst of Trouble

When panic overtakes your mind, suggestions like, “Just relax,” or, “Calm down a little,” can feel very hard to follow. You need a solution as quickly as possible, and staying calm seems like it will only slow you down.

So, how can we become people who remain calm even in conditions that seem anything but supportive?

The Carpenter Who Lost His Watch

There was a carpenter who always wore his favorite watch while he worked. One day, the watch came loose and fell, buried in a very large pile of sawdust.

Complaining and blaming his own carelessness, the carpenter tore through the pile of sawdust to look for his watch. The other workers helped as well. But it was useless; his beloved watch still could not be found.

Lunchtime came, and the carpenter sadly left the workshop with his coworkers. At that moment, a child who had been watching them came over to the pile of sawdust. He crouched down, then began digging through it. Before long, he succeeded in finding the carpenter’s watch.

Of course, the carpenter was overjoyed, but also amazed. How could a little child find the watch that a whole group of adults had been unable to find?

“How did you find this watch?” he asked.

“I just sat quietly on the floor,” the child answered. “In the silence, I could hear the tick-tock, tick-tock. That’s how I knew where the watch was.”

Find Calm with These 3 Ways

Better one handful of tranquility than two handfuls of toil and chasing after the wind. – Ecclesiastes 4:6 

Sometimes, in dealing with life’s problems, what we need is a handful of calm, not panic. Panic will not solve anything.

Do these three things so that you can stay calm and cool in various situations:

1. Remember That We Have an Amazing God

Often panic arises because we forget that we have a God who rules over everything. We imagine that we have to struggle alone in this world, and that everything that happens depends on what we do. In fact, our lives are not beyond the intervention of God. We only need to do our part and let God do His part.

Then His disciples came and woke Him, saying, "Lord, save us, we are perishing." He said to them, "Why are you afraid, you of little faith?" Then Jesus got up and rebuked the wind and the lake, and the lake became completely calm. – Matthew 8:25-26

Jesus said that His disciples had little faith. That was what made them panic when things did not go as expected. If we believe that we are not alone, and that the Lord will never leave those who love Him, we will have true peace.

So we can confidently say: "The Lord is my Helper. I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?" – Hebrews 13:6  

2. Have Self-Control and Pray

It will be harder to do something to the best of our ability if we are tense or frantic. So, besides realizing that the Lord is always with us, we must also learn self-control. Being calm is a choice. In other words, we can be calm if we decide to stay calm.

I was once unsettled because I had a problem with someone. Whenever we met, I felt as though I wished I could disappear from sight. I knew our problem had to be resolved, but I was afraid.

That was when I remembered the story of Jacob, who wanted to make peace with Esau, the brother who had once sworn to kill him because Jacob had deceived him (Genesis 27:41). In his fear before meeting Esau, who was said to be coming to him with 400 men (Genesis 32:6), Jacob prayed:

Then Jacob said, "O God of my grandfather Abraham and God of my father Isaac, O LORD, who said to me: Return to your land and to your relatives, and I will do you good. I am not worthy of all the steadfast love and faithfulness You have shown to Your servant, for with only my staff I crossed this Jordan, and now I have become two camps.

Please deliver me from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau, for I am afraid of him, lest he come and attack me, the mothers and their children as well. 

Did You not say: I will surely do you good and make your offspring like the sand of the sea, which cannot be counted because of its multitude?" 

– Genesis 32:9-12

Inspired by Jacob’s actions, I also prayed and asked that the Lord would give me the courage to meet this person and smooth the way for our meeting. After that, we set a time to meet, and I kept praying before that day came. Praying made me far calmer, and as a result, our relationship is much better now. The power of prayer truly is amazing.

Therefore be self-controlled and calm, so that you can pray. – 1 Peter 4:7b

3. Form a Strategy

There are many things that make life unsettled, and all of them can be summed up in one word: problems.

Even if you have already applied points 1 and 2, you will not be able to be completely calm before carrying out the third point. Problems must be resolved, not avoided, much less treated as if they do not exist.

The right strategy will produce extraordinary results. Ask God for wisdom if you are confused about how to form a strategy.

Continuing Jacob’s story above, after praying, he did not simply remain still. By reading Genesis 32:13-21, you will see how Jacob arranged a strategy of sending gifts to Esau before their groups met. The goal was to soften Esau’s heart so that Jacob might escape his anger.

Be Still First,  Then Move Forward

Prayer is indeed necessary, but you must also step forward in faith. Jacob prayed and also made a plan to resolve his problem. So, do your part, and let God do the rest!

Without calmness, it will be hard for you to think clearly and act to the fullest. So, trust that you have an amazing God. Have self-control and pray, then form a strategy to resolve your problem.

"In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength." – Isaiah 30:15

The Lord be with you always! - Church GKDI is currently present in 35 cities. We have Bible Study activities in every area; if you need information or would like to get involved, contact us at contact Church GKDI Official: WhatsApp 0821 2285 8686 or Facebook / Instagram GKDI Official

Related article: Stay Faithful Even When It’s Not Popular

Inspirational video: