Today started off as being another normal day at work... until I lost the keys. I had set them down on the counter directly in front of one of the registers, and five minutes later they were gone. No one knew where they were.
I started searching frantically, in hopes of finding them mixed in with the clumps of paper scraps in the garbage can or behind one of the grey bins on the floor. I opened every drawer, picked up every rug, and looked in every crack behind the cashwrap counter. Nothing.
By the time an hour-and-a-half was up, it was time for me to take my 15 minute break. I stumbled to the backroom, panicking in tears as my eyes started to swell up. I was on the verge of having an emotional breakdown.
When I returned to the salesfloor, I continued looking for the keys, up and down the counter and in and out of all the different openings they could have fallen in to. Another hour-and-a-half passed by until I finally gave up and went on my hour break.
Such a silly situation to beat yourself up on and allow it to wreck your day, right?
I was becoming physically, mentally and emotionally stressed over a misplaced object. I couldn't focus on doing any other part of my job and I became extremely frustrated and impatient with customers.
As I was sitting in my car during my hour break, one of my friends reminded me of this Bible verse:
"I am leaving you with a gift -- peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don't be troubled or afraid." (John 14:27)
The context of this verse is Jesus telling the disciples that He is going to leave them, and He is reassuring them that peace will travel with them.
I think this same peace that was with the disciples over 2,000 years ago can occupy our minds and our hearts now if we accept it.
There are going to be issues that arise. This world isn't perfect. In fact, we cannot depend on anything the world offers or says.
As one of the professors at my college is renowned for saying, "The world may fail you, but God is faithful." I love that last little bit. God is faithful.
We don't have to be troubled or worried, over the smallest of problems (like my own) or even the biggest of problems (a family member's death, a job loss, etc.).
As the Lord started speaking to me about His peace and His faithfulness, I was reminded that I belong to the Lord and nothing can ever separate me from His love.
My little freakout today, well, that's nothing in the book of troubles people in this world have faced. So what ended up happening after my lunch hour was over?
I walked back into work, head up high and a smile slapped across my face. Worry had no control over me anymore.
And no, I never did end up finding the keys. But that'ss okay. God taught me a huge lesson through such a tiny circumstance in the scheme of things.
Whenever worry or fear starts to inch in, remind yourself of this verse:
"In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." (John 16:33)
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