Are you out of control?
A few days ago, my grandmother passed away quite suddenly. And I wasn’t prepared for it.
This week has been a struggle. I found myself losing motivation for anything and everything. Stopped exercising. Stopped working. Stopped doing anything at all.
I knew my grandmother was saved and that she went to heaven when she passed. I was comforted by the fact she was no longer suffering or lonely. I wasn’t necessarily sad, I just felt out of control.
It felt like I had no control over anything in my life, so I just gave up and sat on the couch for a few days. I lost the energy to deal with anything, lacking any patience.
I found out that we were expecting company and my mind went haywire with the list of things I had to do, along with my other daily responsibilities.
I have to scrub the shower walls, Windex the mirrors, wipe down the counters, dust the windowsills, reorganize the refrigerator, buy a plant pot, finish decorating a shelf, prep my husband’s dinner, vacuum and mop the floors, write various devotionals, plan and create graphics, respond to emails, make phone calls, ride the Peloton, design invitations. The list was endless and I was overwhelmed.
And I lashed out. I started to nag and bicker with my husband, storm off and then get super quiet. Rinse and repeat.
Have you ever lashed out at the people closest to you? Have you ever felt out of control? That you have no control over anything in your life? That you don’t know how to cope with what is in front of you?
John 14:27 says, Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
God gives us His peace, a kind of peace that the world could never give us. No matter the circumstance, we shouldn’t allow our hearts to be troubled or afraid by what we are facing.
Maybe instead of being in control all the time, we should just give God the control instead. That way we don’t have to be in control at all. We can just let loose in Christ.
It’s all about letting God be in control so you don’t have to be. Trusting that He will help us through every situation and experience, every emotion and feeling, every anxious thought.
It’s about screaming, crying, complaining, venting, and being out of control in the presence of God, and allowing Him to give us His peace as a replacement.
Response Questions
1. Do you have moments where you feel out of control? What triggers those moments?
2. What action do you need to take in the moments that you are triggered?
Pray with me!
Father God, forgive me for being out of control when I should just hand over the control to you. I come before you and bare all to you, and I ask that your overwhelming peace would replace every anxious feeling. Whenever I feel out of control, remind me to come to you. Thank you that I don’t have to fear and my heart doesn’t have to be troubled, no matter the circumstances. I love you and I give you control.
In Jesus’ name, amen.
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