Online Reporter
It is so easy to be calm, grateful, and collected when life flows according to our expectations. When the sun is shining on our plans, when people are kind, when circumstances honour our efforts.
Then, our composure comes naturally. The real test, however, of who we often become when we are provoked, when life suddenly tilts, and when we are misunderstood, overlooked, or treated unfairly. In those heated moments, how many of us truly remember to remain rooted, present, and unflustered?
Admittedly, several times when the unexpected happens to me, I find myself slipping with the emotional tide; reacting too fast, or absorbing negativity too deeply. Only later do I remember, regrettably, that the moment had been a test — a divine test of presence, character and maturity. A test I could have passed, had I remembered to pause and anchor myself in God’s presence.
The truth is; life will not always go our way. It is a beautiful illusion to imagine that everything will unfold perfectly simply because we are good, honest, or hard-working people.
Rain falls on both the just and the unjust. Challenges visit both the kind and the unkind. Being a good person does not exempt us from life’s disruptions — it simply equips us with better tools to respond to them.
Staying calm amidst chaos is not natural; it is cultivated. It is a practice. It is key to understand and remember that storms are temporary but our responses can leave permanent marks on our relationships, opportunities, and our own self-respect.
I am reminded of a certain young man named Joe, a colleague many admired. He was hard-working, punctual, dependable and generous with his time. His peers agreed he was the natural choice for an upcoming promotion and many were so happy for him.
Then one afternoon, something unexpected happened. His supervisor, having received wrong information from someone else, mistakenly accused Joe of mishandling a task. The accusation was sharp and delivered in a rush, but the supervisor genuinely believed it at that moment.
Joe, shocked and deeply hurt, snapped. He lashed out, shouting at his superior in front of colleagues.
Years of bottled frustration poured out like boiling water. He spoke of how unappreciated he felt, how much he had sacrificed, how unfair the workplace was.
And as emotions took over, he said hurtful and disrespectful words — things he could never take back. Those words landed heavily even on the ears of those who witnessed the exchange.
A few hours later, the supervisor realised the mistake and apologised. The misunderstanding had been genuine. But unfortunately, the real damage had not come from the false accusation; it came from Joe’s reaction. His lack of self-control cost him far more than the mistake itself ever could have. The outburst overshadowed years of diligence. The promotion he had been nearly guaranteed quietly slipped away.
This story continues to move me to this day because it demonstrates a lesson many of us forget: the moment we lose our calm, we hand over our power. We shift from being guided by wisdom to being driven by emotion. And while anger lasts for minutes, the consequences often last much longer.
Remaining calm does not mean suppressing feelings or pretending everything is fine. It means pausing long enough to respond rather than react.
It means choosing clarity over chaos. It means remembering that God’s presence is our anchor; steady, dependable, and ever-near. When we root ourselves in His presence, we are no longer swayed by every wind that blows our way.
We learn to breathe through the tension, observe our emotions, and choose a response that honours who we are becoming.
Yes, challenges will come your way — just as the unexpected unfavourable can unfold. May you always be rooted in presence — God’s presence. May you find strength in the stillness, wisdom in the pause, and grace in every testing moment.
And when life does not go your way, may you remember that calmness is not weakness; it is physical, spiritual and emotional maturity in motion.
Mildred Mutize is a certified life coach, speaker and writer, passionate about inspiring personal growth and transformation. For feedback and engagement, contact her on [email protected] or w/a +263773637284.
