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Is Inner Peace Attainable?
Steve O. Alabi

Life is full of obstacles and problems. We are constantly bombarded from all sides daily by the problems and their effect on us directly or indirectly through affected loved ones and acquaintances.
Every stage of development or effort to progress is froth with circumstances that would not allow us enjoy relative calm nerves which would lead to inner peace. Is it therefore possible to attain a state of inner peace?

To be clear, inner peace is achieved due to the absence of troubles and worries. It is a deliberate state of psychological or spiritual calm despite the potential presence of stressors.
How do we then remain calm in the face of adversity? I strongly believe inner peace is attainable.

Christianity teaches us that God is the author of our lives and knows the end from the beginning even before we were conceived. Based on this assertion, we can liken our relationship and lives with God like a movie.
God, the director and producer wrote the story and the script before we were born. Our lives are the movie. We and everyone we come across in life are characters in the movie. Situations we find ourselves are props…part of the block buster movie.

Let’s fast forward by twenty years. We now feel we are grown up and have ideas. We also have plans and choices except that we have forgotten that we are mere characters in an already well scripted movie called life. We claim we are no longer infants; we have become decision makers, planners and sometimes try to play God in our individual capacities. Unfortunately, we struggle trying to rewrite the script instead of just acting our roles.

Life will be easier and less stressful if we cast our worries on the Lord. If he knows what will become of us since our creation, why do we think he doesn’t know our troubles or understand our circumstances? Why do we find it difficult to live according to His plans for us? This is because we do not want to include Him, we rather need him only to sort us out during the unfavourable times.

In our desire to be in control and as we are influenced by the modern life style, most of our relationship with God is like fast food orders. Ask when you want, have it immediately delivered and take off till the next time of need. We are always in a state of self-induced haste and worry is the aftermath. I dare to ask, what or when has the worries solved the problems? Not very often I know.

Materialism has created a problem it cannot solve. It’s not unusual for everyone to desire things we cannot afford or desire. A student wants to have all the material things a teacher has, while the teacher desires the material wealth of the businessman who is not left out in the frenzy. The businessman desires to be like the politician in the acquisition of wealth and influence. Isn’t the scenario that of covetousness?

All these desires and the attendant problems are enough cause for anxiety and lack of peace.
I remember years back, whenever the month was about to end and I think of the designer items we plan to buy, my hear begins to race. I cannot imagine the amount of heart aches I went through when the salary was paid late. One week after the items were bought, the thrill and excitement is lost and we plan new items to get. It was an unending rat race of high anxiety, short excitement and limited enjoyment. It took some years to become wise and outgrow the cycle.

With age, I have learnt that there are few things one cannot acquire during a lifetime if only we are patient and consistent. The haste is a major issue.
We grew up having the bare essentials, then life happened. The mass media and advertising took control of our thoughts, tastes and desires. Things began to fall apart. Dashed hopes and worries increased. Until I graduated, it was rare to hear of middle aged people having high blood pressure. Nowadays, young people have it and more.

The best way to experience inner peace is to first identify your life purpose, align it with God’s plan and providence for you, have a lot of patience and time for reflection and thanksgiving.

I returned, and saw under the sun,
that the race is not to the swift,
nor the battle to the strong,
neither yet bread to the wise,
nor yet riches to men of understanding,
nor yet favour to men of skill;
but time and chance happeneth to them all.
Ecclesiastes 9:11


According to Fela Anikulapo Kuti “Tailor wey dey work like carpenter, na suegbe”. In short, to each, his own.
Inner peace, among other things, eliminates over thinking and too much analyzing of every situation. When you empty your mind of unnecessary thoughts, fears and worries, your mind will be free, and you will enjoy inner peace. When the restless activity of your mind slows down, when your thoughts stop rushing like waves on a windy day, then you will start getting glimpses of the sweet taste of inner peace.

It would not be crammed with unnecessary thoughts and junk, which limit you and waste your time and energy. You will then be able to think more clearly and be more focused.
Inner peace is not a state of passivity, and certainly does not make life dull. On the contrary, it makes you more conscious, alive and happy. It helps you live life more fully.

Would it be possible to focus more on yourself than the “others”? Would it be possible to fully assess yourself and your net worth rather than dreaming of imaginary status? Would it be possible to devote half of the time you spend watching TV to study for self improvement?

Inner peace can’t be switched on at will. It’s a decision; it’s achievable and must be improved upon. It is a life long journey of conviction and commitment.

“The life of inner peace, being harmonious and without stress, is the easiest type of existence.” –Norman Vincent Peale

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