Being in control is something I have always felt I needed. Never trusting that anyone else could manage my concerns better than myself. It’s difficult to trust anyone else to control the details of my days. But then I think of my relationship with God.
If I believe that God is who he says he is, how can I not trust him with every detail of my life? It’s been difficult to relinquish control of my life to him or anyone else, but I know that I am nothing without him.
I know that it’s difficult when I face trouble in life to not worry, but that’s exactly what he tells us.
Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?
Matthew 6:26-27
If I believe that God created me and that he loves me, why could I not embrace this truth? I think it’s because Satan loves to cause us to doubt God. He does whatever he can to make us question our faith. He causes us to question the promises and paths that God made for us.
So, how can we overcome this doubt? In several ways. For one, we can look at what the Bible says, because everything that is truth we’ll be able to find support for it in the Scriptures. Secondly, we can pray to God for discernment over situations we find ourselves in, asking for him to show us the way. His plan is often very different from the plan we come up with on our own. And finally, look at your past. If God has been faithful to bring you through the tough times in the past, why would he not do so again? He has been faithful in the past and he always will be.
I know that we lose loved ones in our lives, but that’s a given. We know that none of us will live forever. But, I believe that there is a purpose for everything. We won’t always be aware of it.
I remember when my mother-in-law was in her last days, she asked me why she was still alive. I told her that God wasn’t done with her yet. I saw how she interacted with the nurses at the nursing home she was in. She talked to them and listened to their concerns, and then she gave them the wisdom she had gleaned from her life. God had her influencing people up to the very end. I’ve always felt grateful for her being a part of my life especially because of this gift that God had given her. I was sad when her life ended, but that’s the life we are given on earth. Because of my faith and the faith she had, I know that I will see her again.
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose
Romans 8:28
God has a plan for each of us. We just need to trust him to carry it out. The path may not be easy to understand because God doesn’t work or think the same way we do. I had always planned on going to college in Terre Haute at ISU. It was near home and convenient. But God had a different plan. I was always involved in sports and wanted to play basketball in college. In talking with coach Edith Godleski about my future plans, she pointed out that because of my 5′ 3″ stature, I would probably more suited to a smaller college. Thus began my search for a smaller school leading me to Franklin College where I ended up playing not only basketball, but softball and field hockey as well. I wouldn’t have probably done that at ISU. And FC is where I met my husband. My future could have looked totally different due to that one decision. It didn’t take the path I expected, but God put people in my life that led me where I needed to be. That just one instance in my life. I could name many others.
Giving up the reigns on my life wasn’t easy. I still try to grab at them every once in a while, but I’m learning to trust in his hand on my life. I pray that he will put me where he wants me to be to do whatever it is he wants me to do.
Living life in faith and in relationship with Jesus, who came to give us a future of life everlasting is a gift that all are invited to. You, too. Need do know more? Reach out. I’m here.
In Faith,
Pam
Where God Leads 