It feels like the world has gone mad, doesn’t it?
Every time we pick up our phones, we’re hit with another wave of bad news—wars, disasters, division, and heartbreak from every corner of the globe. It’s overwhelming. And the truth is, we weren’t designed to carry the weight of the world on our shoulders.

Two thousand years ago, the Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius wrote, “Sanity is tying your wellbeing to your own actions.” That ancient bit of wisdom has never been more relevant. When our peace depends on the behavior of politicians, the state of the economy, or the endless cycle of global news, we’re setting ourselves up for anxiety, anger, and despair. But when we anchor our wellbeing to what we can control—our actions, attitudes, and obedience to God—we begin to find peace again.

Let me put it this way: the people who are struggling most with fear, anxiety, or depression are often focusing their minds and hearts on things they cannot control. But peace begins when we shift our focus to the things we can do something about.

You can control how you treat the people in your life—your spouse, your kids, your coworkers. You can control your schedule, your priorities, your diet, and your habits. You can choose to open your Bible instead of doom-scrolling through social media. You can pray. You can serve someone in need. You can take a walk and thank God for another day of life.

Romans 12:2 tells us, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” That renewal happens when we stop letting the world’s chaos set the tone for our hearts and let God’s truth shape our perspective instead.

When I find myself getting overwhelmed by everything happening in the world, I remind myself to focus on what’s right in front of me—the people God has placed in my life and the work He’s given me to do. I don’t have to solve every problem in the world; I just have to be faithful where I am. That simple shift brings incredible peace.

So let me encourage you today: stop trying to manage the uncontrollable. Fix your attention on what’s in your hands, and surrender the rest to God. He’s still in control, even when the world seems to be spinning out of it.

Philippians 4:6–7 says it best: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

If you want to stay sane in a world that’s losing its mind, tie your wellbeing to the things you can control—and trust God with everything else.

Peace is possible. And it starts with where you place your focus.