“I’ve got to do something!” This was my plea to Julie a few days ago after a really, really bad few days. The job has been chaotic, school work is bearing down, Julie’s dad has been in and out of the hospital, our adopted missions country is in turmoil and several friends have struggles or issues that I’m concerned for. The feeling of helplessness bore down on me and I wanted to do something to try and make it all better – but I knew that I couldn’t.
Yesterday I took some extra time in prayer and fasting and poured out my heart to God asking Him to fix these things. A funny thing happened to me as I did. I found myself growing in joy and in trust that God is indeed handling these things for His glory and namesake. A verse that has rattled around in my head for the better part of two months now is Psalm 46:10 “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” (ESV)
In my stillness, I rediscovered the fact that God is still in control of all things. God reminded me that He is God and that I am not. I can pray for my father-in-law, but his health is in God’s hands. I can counsel my friends through their dark times, but ultimately how those turn out is between God and them. I can mourn and grieve with them through their loss, but ultimately I am not responsible for their loss and I cannot fix their loss. God can – and He doesn’t need me to try and do His job!
The past few days have served as a power reminder to me that God is God and I am not. Too often, I think, we proclaim God as in control but functionally work and live as though He is not. The God we have in a box is not capable of doing what we want or need Him to. This is why we cannot put God in a box! We need to trust that God is in control even when we think our lives are spinning radically out of control. This is the message we learned in Ruth – God is working all things together for good for those who are called according to His purposes. (Romans 8:28)
I am guilty of always trying to fix things for people and worrying about life when in reality all I really can do is listen, pray, trust God and be a friend to those who are hurting. I can do something when the world is out of control. I can “be still” and trust that God is working it to His glory and His purposes!
Well said Thomas! All I really can add is “AMEN”!