Vol. 16 No. 46 | November 18, 2013
Came across this quote while pondering the events of the day and checking how life is being lived on Facebook (thanks, David Lewis…I think), “Our anxiety does not come from thinking about the future, but from wanting to control it.” (Kahlil Gibran) Ouch!
Jesus said, “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” (Matthew 6) Ouch! Ouch!
I began writing this while visiting my daughter and son-in-law. Part of our visit was spent purchasing and assembling a crib, a dresser/changing table, and rocking chair (and a really cool ottoman) in preparation for the February arrival of their baby girl. It was a great blessing to share these days. As they, and we, await the birth we could all wear ourselves out trying to control everything that may or may not happen before this little girl makes her entrance into our world. Or, we could realize that we have little to no control over any of the events leading up to her birth. We could all worry and fret, or we can trust God who controls the births of all babies. We will think about the baby on the way. We will think about the joy we will share. We will dream endless possibilities. But, we do not want or need to be in control. We choose to trust Him.
As I wait for my flight I have seen weather forecasts that say there are storms in Nashville. We have an engagement later tonight that we would prefer to make on time. If the flight is delayed, we may be late, or not make it at all. I have done everything I can to get there on time. However, I am not flying the plane, I do not control the wind, and have no desire to do either. I will think about what I’ll do if the ride gets bumpy. I will consider my options if I am delayed. I will also think about what we will do when I arrive safely and on time. But, I do not want or need to be in control. So, I trust that this plane will leave the ground on schedule, and that it will safely
arrive fairly close to the scheduled time, and if it does not I trust that we will be okay.
Like many Americans we are investigating options for health insurance. Most options are less than what we prefer. The very concept of insurance implies that we are preparing for something that may or may not happen. One of us may get sick. One of us may need surgery. One of us may get cancer. One of us may have a serious health issue. We may not. So we continue our search for affordable and adequate health insurance. We could wring our hands, lose sleep, and go into a panic over what will happen if we do not. We could trust God to lead us to adequate insurance at an affordable price. We do not run the federal government, determine the cost of insurance, and we do not have control over unexpected health issues. My wife and I will talk to insurance agents. We will talk about our needs and the best way to have those needs met. But, we do not want or need to be in control. So we trust that God will help us find what we need at an affordable price.
Every morning we wake up with an abundance of options and opportunities laid out in front of us. We have a choice about how we will approach the day. We can spend our hours trying to control and manipulate everything that happens and all the people with whom we will have interaction. If that is our choice we would do well to be certain that we are indeed in control of the universe, or else we are in for a day — a life — of frustration, disappointment, anxiety and stress. Although we may think we do, we really do not want or need to be in control. God is better at running the world than we are.
Why not, instead, trust the One who gave you breath to handle what happens? He knows your needs. He knows the needs of those with whom you will have interactions. He knows the things that need to happen during the day. He is already prepared for the things that “might” go wrong and are beyond your control, and He knows the things that will go right. Trust Him. Surrender to Him. Let Him have control. He knows what He is doing.
He is in charge. You can relax.
Tom
© Copyright 2013 Tom Norvell. All rights reserved.