Control vs. Trust

Joanne said something a couple weeks ago that really encapsulated things going on inside my head. She said that sometimes needing to know what direction to head is really just a form of control.

I was in the midst of “Which way do you want me to go in 2012?” prayers and felt like I was talking into the wind. Each year I like to outline a few goals. Not resolutions. Those simply do not work for me. They anchor me to my failure whereas goals spur me onward. So I was seeking God's direction. And getting nowhere fast. Oh, I know a general direction but the specifics I was seeking were white washed and it was frustrating me.

I wanted a verse for 2012.
I wanted a word for 2012.
All I had was static fuzz and the impression that I simply need to rest and trust God.

In my bull-headedness I was trying to learn what direction God wanted me to go so I could take over. So I could say (or even just think) “Roger that, God. I'll take it from here.” and go on my merry way, plotting, planning, scheming, and doing.

But that's not what God wanted from me or for me.


Wait for the Lord;
be strong and let your heart take courage;
yes, wait for the Lord.
~Psalm 27:14


He wanted me to be still.
He wanted me to hold tight to His hand.
He wanted me to follow His lead on a moment by moment basis. Sensitive to His leading, not racing ahead doing my own thing.

'For I know the plans that I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.'
~Jeremiah 29:11

God knows the plan. He knows the direction and He knows what He wants me to do. If I hold tight to Him, He will lead me.


Lead me in Your truth and teach me,
for You are the God of my salvation;
for You I wait all the day. ~Psalm 25:5


And when I'm waiting and all around me is still looking like a white out, then I need to wait and continue to hold on to Him. I don't need to see where I'm going. I need only hold His hand. When it's time, He'll lead me forward, whether I can see or not.

Though it tarries, wait for it; for it will certainly come, it will not delay.
~Habakuk 2:3


Do I know what 2012 is going to hold for me? Absolutely not.
Do I know the direction I'm going? Not really.
But I know that I need to rest in God and trust Him to lead me through the white out. I don't need to be in control. I only need to hold tight.

Trust and obey.
There's no other way.

Dear Heavenly Father, forgive me for trying to take control. I want Your will, in Your way, in Your time. Help me to hold fast to Your hand and be sensitive to Your leading in all things. You can see through the storm and You know the way at all times. Make me know Your ways, O Lord; teach me Your paths. In Your Name I pray, amen.

9 comments:

  1. Gee, thanks, Peej, for throwing my own words back in my face and slapping me upside the head with them! ;)

    Seriously, I needed my own reminder again. I've made my goals, as you know, but I'm needing that reminder to keep HIS plans ahead of them. Great post, sweetie.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Wow, Peej! I really needed this message. I'm with you, I set goals but I don't do resolutions.

    I love the point you shared, goals can become a form of control. Thanks, Joanne!

    No matter how great the goal, when we stray from His will we end up lost on the wrong path.
    Thanks for the blessing, I needed this right now, today!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Wow... What a fresh reminder to obey God. I always keep Rome 8:28 in my heart and learn to trust in Him and let Him does His part. Sometimes I keep controlling and He keep pushing me back and reminding me that I have to give it up. I really need to learn more about this. Thank you for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Beautiful post! And I can totally relate!

    ReplyDelete
  5. This is wonderful, Patty...definitely a good reminder for me. :) Thanks so much for sharing what the Lord put on your heart.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Being in a whiteout myself, I needed to hear your words, Patty.

    Thank you for listening to Him and passing it on.

    ReplyDelete
  7. A great affirmation of the sermon we heard this morning based on Joshua's following God's lead into the promised land. Hang on, Patty, yours is ready and waiting! Happy New Year and God Bless.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I've been wanting to read this post ever since I saw it the other day. Timing is everything...I really needed these words this morning. One of my children really hurt me this morning and my mind has been circling with responses...arguments actually. I know that I need to just wait this out...that no "doing" needs to happen right now...especially during this vulnerable time in my life where most of my energy (emotional, physical and spiritual) is being spent walking through these last days before my sister goes to heaven. Just like Satan to take a pot shot at me right now. Your words of wisdom helped...I think I need to do a reread and spend some time in prayer over this situation.

    ReplyDelete
  9. I love this! I hadn't ever thought about it this way. I'll be chewing on this all day, friend. :)

    ReplyDelete

Thanks so much for stopping by! I love hearing from you.

Blog Widget by LinkWithin

  © Blogger template Simple n' Sweet by Ourblogtemplates.com 2009. Design expanded and personalized by PattyWysong.com 2011.

Back to TOP