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[photo credit] |
I am going to be honest and just say it; I use to like being
in control. Let me rephrase that, I use to like thinking I was in control. I
say “thinking I was in control” because in reality I have never been in
control. Even in those moments in which I thought I was,
God was always the one managing the situation.
There are many verses that come to mind when I think of
control and letting go of the idea of having it. These are verses that God has
used to speak to me in times when I was trying to control situations and/or
outcomes in my life.
You can make plans, but the LORD’s purpose will prevail. –
Proverbs 19:21
A perfect example of this can be found in Genesis when
Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers. Although he experienced difficult
times along the way, God was always with him. God turned what an outsider would
have thought was going to be an awful life into a life in which Joseph was able
to show others what trusting in the Lord looks like.
But Jesus looked at them and said to them,
“With men this is
impossible, but with God all things are possible. – Matthew 19:26
There is NOTHING that is impossible with God. I would
venture to say for the majority of us, the reason we like “being in control” is
a sense of security we get when we think we know how things will turn out in
our lives and what will happen next. There are so many opportunities I have had
in my life that if it weren’t for God being in control of my life they never
would have happened. I never thought I would have passed that class, gotten
that job, paid that bill, or traveled there.
I will be forever grateful for all the times I have been wrong; that it
was not me that was truly in control. I would miss out on so many things, if
only what I thought possible or was capable of doing on my own would happen.
“Abba, Father,” he
cried out, “everything is possible for you.
Please take this cup of suffering
away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” – Mark 14:36
If even Jesus – God incarnate prayed, we should be praying
all the more. Not only did Jesus pray to God, He prayed that God’s will be
done. At times, I find myself praying for what I believe is best for me. If we think we know what is best
for ourselves, just imagine everything the Lord knows IS best for us. In
reality, the best thing for us is for God’s will to be done in our lives. He
knows the beginning, the end and the beauty that is the in-between. He wants to give and teach us so
much, and the only way that can happen is for us to surrender all.
I pray that we can all remember to let go of that need to be
in control and allow God to truly work in our lives. That we not turn to God as
our last resort, but as our only resort.
For I
know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord,
thoughts of peace and not of
evil, to give you a future and a hope. – Jeremiah 29:11
3 comments:
Thank you for this! I'm a control freak and I am not afraid to admit it. This hit home. love ya ZEE.
"He is the beginning, the end, and the beauty that is between."
Love, love, love that crumb of truth.
Amen.
That was a beautiful golden nugget for thought! It's hard to let go of that "thought" of control, but you're right, if Jesus (God in the flesh) had to surrender to the Father while He was on this earth, then who are we not to do the same? Thanks for this thought Zee!
-Will
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