Letting Go of What We Can't Control
Remember in the last Indiana Jones movie where Indie was hanging on to the edge of the rocks and reaching out to try to grab the holy grail? His father tells him, "Let it go." When he does, he turns to his father who grabs his hands and pulls him to safety. I've always found that symbolic of who God is to us. We keep reaching for things that don't matter while we are at the precipice of losing everything. God is there telling us to let it go. When we finally do surrender, it is then that HE can take over and pull us to safety.
"Here we are again, Lord." I said on my walk today. It seems I am always in that tight spot where I need a miracle. Hindsight always proves that the answer was just as simple as surrender. We want to control everything. Anxiety takes over and we search for a way to fix it! My mind is screaming, I've got to fix this now!
My job of late is that of a "fixer". I never knew how much work it is to orchestrate the ordering, shipping, receiving, printing and delivery of tee shirts and promotional items. You would think it was rocket science with as difficult as some of my days have been. My boss, who has been doing this for 20 years, is on an even keel when everything falls apart. He says, "in the long run, it is just tee shirts. No one is going to die if they don't get them on time." Sometimes that statement frustrates me, because I want to meet people's deadlines. I want to please the customer with not only on time delivery but everything present and accounted for all wrapped up neatly with a golden bow on top. It isn't practical. Most days it is nearly impossible especially since supply has been all over the map in the last year. But there are days when a tiny miracle happens and the customer is over the moon thrilled with the results.
The chaos in our lives is man-made. God didn't do this, I did. Every thing that has come into my life and resulted in me crying out for yet another miracle is because of a wrong turn, a bad decision or a harsh word. I feel like Winnie the Pooh sometimes. Imagine Jesus as Christopher Robin dragging me along by my fluffy butt to show me just how great life is outside of my tiny world. Then he gives me a hug and says, "Silly old bear." Okay, not my best Imagining, but seriously. How many times did Pooh get himself into situations that required Christopher Robin's wisdom and love for the pudgy ball of fluff? This time I feel like the overstuffed Pooh who has just eaten too much honey and I'm stuck in Rabbit's front door. Paint a face on my butt. I'm good. If it was only that easy.
Surrender is all I have at this point. My hands are open and while I still feel stuck in a hole I know that God is working. I Imagine Jesus standing in a pair of rain boots contemplating just how long he is going to let me stay stuck before his brilliant plan is put into action. Somehow it makes me feel less stressed to know that I am powerless, but the one who takes my hand and helps me through is the God of the Universe and nothing is too difficult for him. Even with this knowledge I still wonder why it is so difficult to surrender let alone obey God. His ways are not our ways. His thoughts are not our thoughts. He is perfect and holy, and we are fluffy headed disobedient obstinate children! "Oh Bother!" says Pooh.
Psalm 18:19 "He brought me out into a spacious place; he rescued me because he delighted in me."
Psalm 25:20 "Guard my life and rescue me; do not let me be put to shame, for I take refuge in you."
Jeremiah 29:11
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
I am continuing to pray for you sis! Remember, God allows others to cross your path not only to bless you, but also so that they may receive a blessing. Sometimes it is not about us, but God wants to see if they are obedient to help others that he puts in their path. You are such a person that God put in my path in 2019 (wow) and I am here if you need me.