Recently there was a commercial about how difficult life can be after you stop smoking. The ad said, "When you stop smoking, you have to relearn how to live life". It showed a woman walking out of her house who stops to observe her car. She wants to leave for work so she goes to her car, and tries to open the door. First, she tries pulling it open from the top, then from the side, and then the handle. When she enters the vehicle, she gets into the back passenger side. Realizing she can't drive from there, she looks at the front driver side and climbs into the seat. Her next step is to start the car. She tries to put the key in the dashboard, the stereo, and discovers the ignition. Finally, she starts the car, gives a sigh of relief, and drives away.

As Christians, we give up bad habits and sin in order to pleases the Lord. Trying to deal with everyday trials using the lessons we learn from the Bible is challenging but our faith in God gives us the strength and wisdom to do it.

Dealing with people can be a tough challenge, though. People can be rude. And, if someone is rude to you your natural reaction is to get back at them and make them pay. But, the Bible teaches us to behave differently. In Romans Chapter12:17-18 it says, "Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone." Think of what Jesus did when He walked upon this earth. He treated everyone, regardless of how rude there were, with integrity, grace, and mercy.

One thing we have to remember is that because of sin, people will always be imperfect and will often disappoint us. It may be on purpose or by accident, but in some way, shape, or form, they will. Only Jesus keeps all of His promises, people can only attempt to do the same.

Everyone has sin. Some of us are addicts, adulterers, lairs, or just lazy. It seems that most of our battles with sin are within us. We quickly learn that we cannot run our own lives without eventually messing them up. We cannot be trusted.

Before we were believers, we could swear we were doing the right thing. We considered ourselves happy, descent people. However, even in our best of days it would not take long before we did something irresponsible and tripped over our "perfect" worlds. We learned that our sin would find a way to destroy us.

But, when we became believers, we learned that when you live in the Lord's mercy, He gives you peace. Peace is better than happy, because, let's face it, happiness isn't always around. Sometimes sadness comes and even disappointment peaks in, but peace God's peace is still there - it is a constant. It is that warm, steady feeling that reminds us that you we are not alone. God is there for us, picking us up when we're feeling down and discouraged. Jesus said, "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." (John 14:27).

Our world has suffered in sin since Eve gave-in to temptation, believed the lie of the serpent and ate from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. What seems harmless or acceptable to this world is not in the eyes of God. It's easy to go with the flow, so to speak, with what the world says is okay. Homosexuality, greed, mind-altering substances, and sex before marriage are just some of the sins that our world says is okay. Trying to relearn life and learn to avoid these things can be very hard. Sin is glamorized in advertising. It's right in your face because it is what sells.

We as Christians are trying to make appropriate choices for our families in clothes, movies, television, music, and even the attitudes we adopt. We have to build our families on the solid rock of Jesus Christ. We have to discipline ourselves to stay close to the Lord, in His Word, with His people and doing His will. Ultimately, our goal is to be with Him in the glory of Heaven. 1 John 2:17 says, "The world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever."

As a baby Christian, you start your new life with new eyes and an understanding of how God wants you to live and obey. Yet, it takes time to learn and absorb His will. As you grow, you learn to trust in Him completely with your mind, soul, and body - just like a newborn with its mother. And as you learn to trust, you want to obey Him. And in that process, pleasing Him becomes your aim without even realizing it. We may not live life perfectly yet. In fact, we know we won't. But, everyday we will face our trials with the Lord on our side. Living with the greatest peace we will ever experience.