That sounds peaceful

But Jesus often withdrew to the wilderness for prayer. (Luke 5:16 NLT)

  Everyone has an idea of what peace and contentment look like to them. I think of green rolling hills and a cottage in the woods with a beautiful garden. I think of spending evenings on the front porch sharing a conversation with friends and family. That sounds peaceful.
 In reality, the world’s a mess, my kids occasionally struggle, my husband and I are out of sync sometimes, we’re often tired, there are things we don’t enjoy but need to do, and things we’d love to do but rarely get to.
 It’s interesting to observe Jesus’ approach to life. There’s much to learn from His example, but two things that pertain to this topic jump out at me:
 - He knew His Father well enough to trust Him.
 - He retreated from the noise and hubbub regularly.
 I’m convinced that when I am experiencing anxiety, frustration, discontentment, overwhelm, or stress, the answer will be found under one of these two things. That doesn’t mean there isn’t anything practical to learn, change, or do, but it will likely be rooted in one of these things. It’s simple, but not easy. Fortunately, life provides daily opportunities to practice and get better. —Marie Alvero [1]

 I am determined to be cheerful and happy in whatever situation I may find myself. For I have learned that the greater part of our misery or unhappiness is determined not by our circumstance but by our disposition. —Martha Washington (1731–1802)

[1] Activated Two Secrets