18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. 19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it[a] to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” 20 To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. (Romans 12:18-21 ESV)
The longer I live the more I realize that I cannot do so well on my own. This is why God sends us The Helper. The Holy Spirit is there to remind us that on our own we are really not good and to intervene. Left to our own accord, we will most assuredly muck things up.
I have had many seasons of life where I did not feel at peace. Times where I was in conflict with myself and others. Looking back, I really cannot say that I ever “won out” in these situations. I made it through them but the lack of peace that I struggled with really took away from my life in retrospect.
Yet, those times where I truly focused upon God and did not allow either my inner turmoil or outward conflict to overwhelm me were far better. It is through these times that I really realized that I am just not good on my own. How can I be!? Without God life is nothing but turmoil, striving and strife.
Being open to His leading and focusing upon praying and reading scripture it what got me through. I tried very hard to listen more than I spoke, both with God and others. When I really focused on making myself less I really saw how God came into play and made life better.
