Nobody likes going to the DMV. Nobody wakes up wanting to go wait in line and spend two hours renewing a drivers license except me. I woke up the other morning thinking it was a great day to go renew my license in complete denial that it was going to require me to need peace.

In Minnesota, we are finally moving to the enhanced licenses so you can travel more easily. This requires a ridiculous amount of proof of existence including a marriage certificate, birth certificate, social security card, bank statement and more. I located all the documents. The problem was my birth certificate. It was an original apparently too original. I was told it wouldn’t be accepted, but I could go to the desk behind me and purchase one. It could all still be taken care of in one visit.

Relieved, I went to the desk for birth certificates and requested one. The attendant started to look me up in the system. She had this concerned look on her face and said she couldn’t find me. Really? Then a couple minutes later she says she found me. Whew. Except, there is a problem. It says baby girl Schulze. I don’t have a legal name. I have to amend my birth certificate to prove my existence which is a process that will take 4-6 weeks.

Since my license is due to expire at the end of the month, I was instructed to get a standard licensee and upgrade when I get the birth certificate straightened out. I was exasperated. I expected the wait. I anticipated a less than flattering photo. I worried I wouldn’t pass the eye exam. Those were easy. I needed peace.

I was overly frustrated. I left ready to cry. I knew this wasn’t insurmountable, yet I was overwhelmed. Sometimes life piles up and it’s something that is really fixable that sends us over the top into the meltdown. I needed peace, so I began to pray.

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Romans 15:13 NIV).

Whether it is life piling up or a significant turn of events, feeling overwhelmed can easily take over. Resisting the temptation to stew on the circumstances is only overcome through prayer. Drawing close to Him is the only way I have been able to find peace. When I draw near, peace always comes.

Do you find yourself needing peace? What do you do to find peace? Share your experience here and breathe life and bring hope.