When I was about seven years old I etched this phrase onto our front driveway in green chalk. I was learning to ride my bike and was tired of ending up on the pavement.

The problem was I was terrified of ending up on the gravel, because nobody likes to eat dirt. All of this to say fear is a huge roadblock for all of us sometimes. Whether it was seven-year old Charis scared to ride her bike, or 16-year old Charis terrified of SAT scores. Fear is everywhere, in every phase of our lives and it's learning to not only trust God, but also be at peace. You see, I can "trust" God with my whole heart, but as soon as a flicker of doubt comes in and I don't crush it...well sleepless nights are coming my way.

Truly trusting God, I believe, leads to an inevitable feeling of peace. For example, as many know, I did homeschool my junior year (AND LOVED IT) but at the end of the year, with my WHOLE next year of homeschool mapped out, I made the quick decision to return to the private school I had previously attended. But let me say this...For a planner who never makes quick life-changing decisions (I mean I don't even change my toothpaste without consideration), I have never felt such an immense peace in my life. I trusted God with that decision and the restful summer I got was a testimony to that. That's not to say I don't struggle with trusting God still, I definitely do.

But back to the "if I can wheel it I can ride it," putting this full trust in God requires immense determination. Someone once told my dad I was "stubborn," I don't know why they felt the need to tell him, I mean he lives with me! But "stubborn" to ride that sparkly pink bike that day...and I'm proud to say I had many memories to follow, zipping down the street with my friends. And if we applied this same determination to trusting God and quashing doubt, I see no reason why peace would be an anomaly. It's easier said then done, BUT I would say the benefits way outweigh the costs.

Trusting Christ takes a combination of giving up control and having the determination to do so. We were created as beings designed to have an intimate relationship with the Lord and trust is an inevitable part of that. So here's a challenge for myself and the rest of the "control freaks" out there: do your part and trust God with the outcome.

"Duty is ours, consequences are God's"- unknown