A Life Worth Living

I’m on the passenger side of the vehicle. My husband is driving and as we stop at an intersection to make a turn, I find myself checking the blind spot and saying, “honey wait.” He responds with, “I’ve got it.” “Okay,” my mouth says and I relax a bit. You would think that after that I would just enjoy the drive, but no!

Throughout our journey, I hit imaginary brakes, gesture with my finger as if indicating a turn, and irritate my husband who tries to reassure me with a repeated “I’ve got it.” This scenario occurs more frequently than I’d like to admit. Why? Because I have a penchant for being in control.

The idea of giving up control seems to me, akin to bungee jumping or sky diving. If you love risk, these activities might sound exciting, even inviting, but not to me. You would see no smiles from me, only panic. My heart would be racing in terror while I run away from the edge of the precipice holding on tight to the rope. And if a force stronger than I should push me overboard, I would take the plunge with my heart in my mouth. Okay maybe that’s dramatic but you get the idea of how much I would rather be in control than not.

Being out of control is risky, terrifying and unpredictable. But is the control I think I have, an illusion? That’s an easy question to answer when I consider situations I have no control over. Situations where there’s no escape or quick solutions.

What do we do when things happen that are out of our control?

My go-to strategy is retreat and hibernation. I refuse to think about or talk about what’s wrong. I brood, binge watch, and yes, indulge in some chocolate. Eventually, I turn to the right things like prayer, the word, and spending time with other believers. And in God’s kindness and grace the periods of hibernation have become shorter, allowing me to arrive at the following truth much faster: God has ultimate control of my life.

I invite you to read the following scriptures.

Daniel 2:21 He changes times and seasons, He removes kings and sets up kings.

Proverbs 16:33 We may throw a dice, but the lord determines how they fall.

Psalm 139:16 (NLT): Every day of my life was recorded in your book.
Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.

In these verses, I see God orchestrating events on the world stage, maintaining control. Governments don’t rise and fall by chance. I also see God’s involvement in the mundane aspects of everyday life. Nothing happens to me that hasn’t passed through His hands. Even seemingly random occurrences are under His control. Simply put, God governs both macro and micro events of life. There’s never an ‘oops, where did that come from?‘ with God. Everything is within His control. God’s got it!

This truth is one I need constant reminders of because whether I like it or not, I will encounter situations beyond my control. You will too.

Admittedly, the acknowledgment of God’s sovereign control often resides more in my head than in my heart. In my next blog, I will explore ways to deepen this truth within our hearts.