If we truly want to change, then we need to understand our dependency on the all-sufficiency of Jesus Christ. Our change is more about trusting and less about trying.

Some of us have incredible potential, but we don't want to try anything bold because we don't want to fail. The easy choice: live in the relative safety of mediocrity because we think that's better than rejection.

Your circumstances may be black, but Scripture says that God is light. Trust in him, and he will give you a comeback. He will give you a fresh start. He will give you a change of heart and provide a powerful spiritual turnaround. He is with you in the midst of the valley of the shadow of death, and I invite you to praise him and trust his purposes for your life.

I know it's difficult. But, yes, God is working even in the midst of whatever problem you're going through. He's working in both seen and unseen ways. He's working to put you on a path that you'll never regret, a path of extraordinary goodness that's a reflection of his character. In the meantime, your task is to dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness.

This is a powerful, powerful, powerful way to live. Sure, this mind-set doesn't preclude doing our best to right wrongs, seek justice, and find cures. But in the process of taking action, we must understand that God is in charge.

From an early age, we are taught to be proud, strong, and independent. None of those things are wrong, but when it comes to our Christian life, the paradigm has to shift. Jesus invites us to rest, to trust, to depend on him.

As we will soon discover, admitting we are not God—not in control, not running anything, not responsible for everyone's well-being, not the solution for everything and everyone, not at the center of all things—doesn't belittle us; it frees us.

The first, stress, gets a stranglehold on us when we move through life feeling like everything (every decision, every answer, every provision, every protection) rests on our shoulders.

Instead, God wants to take us on an adventure far out into the widest part of the ocean. He leads us into deep waters where there's no way our feet can touch bottom anymore. That's when we lean on God and constantly seek his face and heart and thoughts, because there's no way we can ever swim in the deepest part of the ocean unless we know the one who holds the seas in the palm of his hand.

That kind of thinking says my job every day is to put my life in God's hands. God's job every day is to use my circumstances for his glory.

I'm talking about influence that God wants to give us. I'm talking about opportunities. I'm talking about walking in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. I'm talking about stepping out in obedience. I'm talking about prayer and action. If our hearts are wide open in faith, then God is wide open to us.

Learning to let God help you keep your cool during the little stuff makes it easier to keep your cool when the big things come around.