The people I observe who experience God’s peace and joy are people who hold on to their own expectations lightly, and are open to God’s plans, even when His plans are surprising and troubling. The people I observe who struggle most with anxiety are those who hold on to their plans and expectations tightly.

Or to put it another way: All else being equal, the degree to which you hold lightly to your own expectations and plans, and are open to God’s plans, even when His plans are surprising and hard, is the degree to which you’ll experience God’s peace and joy.

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