While cleaning the kitchen, I had to stop and acknowledge all the screaming and arguing surrounding me.
“Madison,” I said, “those people on TV sure are screaming loud at each other. They’re so angry!”
My 6-year old daughter looked over at me and said, “I know, Mommy, it’s in the hands of God — but, they’re trying to figure it out.”
It’s like they are trying to take it right out of God’s hands — to handle it with their mind. That’s funny.
But, I wonder, how much are we just like these people — “figuring-out” what God’s already working out? Screaming-it-out, worrying, agonizing, figuring, postulating, regurgitating? Tirelessly and endlessly circling the same block? Grabbing away from God what He’s working on? Worrying rather than trusting His amazing end?
If it is all in God’s hands; let’s leave it there.
“I will lay waste the mountains and hills
and dry up all their vegetation;
I will turn rivers into islands
and dry up the pools.
I will lead the blind by ways they have not known,
along unfamiliar paths I will guide them;
I will turn the darkness into light before them
and make the rough places smooth.
These are the things I will do;
I will not forsake them.
But those who trust in idols,
who say to images, ‘You are our gods,’
will be turned back in utter shame.” (Is. 42:15-17)
Our mind can be an idol when it trumps trust in God.
Prayer: Father, we lean on you. We trust you. Even with the things that feel out of control, too scary, too much. . .even with these, we trust you. Help us not to grab out of your hand — through worry, anxiety, manipulation, knowledge or passive-aggressive behaviors — what you are handling. May we bring peace in the darkness and hope in our every day, despite our circumstances. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
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It’s true! We make an idol of our own ability to sort through a complex issue.
(Your daughter is wise beyond her years.)
Elisabeth Elliot said, “Don’t dig up in doubt what was planted in faith.”
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So true. Sometimes we think we can have peace as long as we understand. But sometimes God’s purposes are beyond our understanding. And sometimes He just wants us to trust Him. I’m reminded of another Elisabeth Elliot quote: “”If my life is surrendered to God, all is well. Let me not grab it back, as though it were in peril in His hand but would be safer in mine!””
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I try to take far too many things out of God’s hands. Thank you for the reminder to give it to Him fully!
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Amen. Thank you.
Yes, it is so true our minds can be idols. I had never thought of it like that before.
I’m not always good at it, but I sure love this: “If it is all in God’s hands; let’s leave it there.”
Thanks Kelley for the reminder! This’s my battle. I’m trying to figure out something in my life for the last 5 years, and I have felt unhappy because I cannot make it happen. So, I decided to give it to God in 2019. I was doing well for the first 4 months of the year. I was more satisfied with my life and believing that God only God could do it in His time. Nothing changed outside, but I was more peaceful and I was feeling free to take care of other spheres of my life. However, my “super me” start to working again trying to figure it out for the last 3 months ou so and Im again unhappy with life and depressed—Because my focus in only on it. Why is it so difficult to trust in Him and His time? It’s frustrating that I have a such a little faith—I guess. It’s frustrating to feel that way as I have waked with Him all my life, and He have done more in my life than I could do it myself. Im acting like the Israelites, that still doubt God even after all the signs they had seen. So, thanks again for letting God use you to bless others with your inspirational words. Love Lyslei
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