Support the vision at Hope Is Alive? Give a donation.
Fruit of the Spirit: Peace and Patience
Finding Hope Family Support Groups
Written By
Finding Hope Team
Peace and Patience
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.” Galatians 5:22–26
Peace
Peace is about maintaining a sense of calmness and serenity in the midst of difficult situations. When you love someone addicted to drugs or alcohol, it can be hard to find that peace and serenity. So how do you get there? Here are three ways:
- 1. Prayer and Meditation: The Serenity Prayer is a great place to begin, “God grant me the SERENITY to accept the things I cannot change.”
- What are those things you cannot change? What is outside your control that you need God to give you peace about?
- 2. Boundaries: Setting healthy boundaries to protect your own well-being can give you a sense of peace.
- Do you need to say, “No”? Do you need to put your phone on “do not disturb”? Do you need to stop trying to fix all the problems?
- 3. Self-Care: Taking care of yourself physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually can give you the peace you have not yet experienced.
- Are you getting enough rest? Are you eating healthy? Are you finding 5-10 minutes each day just for you? Are you connected to a Finding Hope meeting?
We have no control over the outcome of the difficult situations in our lives; we can only work to maintain our peace through these times. When we learn to fully trust that God is in control, we can rest in His perfect peace.
Patience
We live in a fast-paced world, and being patient is difficult. We get used to the go, go, go, and always want a quick answer and fix, especially when we love someone in addiction. But, Psalm 46:10 says, “Be still and know that I am God.”
We must be still and trust God. Trust that He sees the big picture. Trust that He is able to do what only He can do. Trust that He loves your loved one more than you do. Trust in His timing.
Sometimes, we may not feel like God is doing anything, so we quickly begin to do His job for him. But we must be patient and believe His timing is best. Remember: God is working on you as well as your loved one, so take time to be still and patient.
