Who’s in control here?

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(photo credit – Flickr by sgs_1019)

[ God Examines Our Motives ] Good leadership is a channel of water controlled by God; he directs it to whatever ends he chooses. Proverbs 21:1 TM

I just got off the phone with one of my friends and had to laugh at how God has been teaching both of us the same lesson in this season of our lives. We talked quickly for just a short bit, trying to play catch up from the last time we spoke on the phone. You know, the “there’s been a whole lot I have to catch you up on” talk, but this was coming from both of us, so we ran through our stories telling bits & pieces from our lives over the last month or so just so the other person would still feel “in the loop” of our friendship.


At the end of our mini marathon conversation she said the words that have been on my heart for the last couple of weeks. She said, God is really teaching me that I am NOT in control here.
Aha! There it is. The very thing (the exact sentence to be quite honest) that He has laid on my heart as well…I am NOT in control here.

We laughed, probably to keep from crying, at the fact that even though our friendship has taken a back seat to the busyness of life right now that God would keep us connected in so many other ways. She had to jump off the phone and get to work, but the dizziness of the 2×4 had hit me again. It was like God was trying to say it to me “one more time“…I am NOT in control here.

I wanted to take a few minutes to unpack just what control really is, so I went over to my good friends at Dictionary.com and here’s what I found.

Control is;

verb (used with object)
1. to exercise restraint or direction over; dominate; command.
2. to hold in check; curb:
–noun
6. the act or power of controlling; regulation; domination or command: Who’s in control here?

Did you catch the little part in italics at the end of the last sentence?

It’s as if God is sending me a giant neon billboard that says, “Melissa, dear sweet Melissa, why, oh why are you always so hard-headed. You are not in control here, and never have been. Slow down. Step back. Let me take the lead. Take it easy, I’m in control.”

If you’ve been around Mel’s World for the last couple of months you will no doubt see that there has been a lot of things going on, in, and around my family and ministry. And in true type A perfectionists style I (key word) keep trying to pick up the baton and run with it, while all along He’s been trying to tell me to release control & let Him run with it.

So, here I go, I am laying it down right here, right now, and giving it back over to the One who really IS in control.
If you, like me, are struggling with who’s in control here, then I would love to pray with you right now.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank you so much that you love us even when we are hard headed and stubborn. Father we’re trying to take control of life when we are supposed to be obedient and follow. Help us to be better followers. Your grace is amazing and we are so thankful that you give it so freely. Help us when we try to pick it back up again. Help us remember that we are not in control. Give us peace in the midst of laying it down and giving it back to you. In your son’s precious and holy name, Amen.

Seeking JOY on the Journey,

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6 Comments

  1. Please accept my thanks and gratitude to you for posting that. It brought me to tears. I, too, am doing this. I guess we “forget” sometimes because life gets so out of control and we struggle to reign it in, when all we have to do is “turn it over”.

  2. Yes, we must remember that God truly is in control. You’ve had so much going on lately and thankfully …He is in control.

  3. Hello have you been reading my mail lately? I am dealing with the same thing and needed to be reminded of this. One scripture that God really is hammering home is Hebrews 12:1, we all know this verse, but something that really just reached out and grabbed me this morning was the sentence “and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.” Notes at home say the race that God has chosen for me. I don’t get to choose the race, I only have to run it.

    Thanks for the reminder, at work and really needed it.

  5. I have the song “God is in control” running thru my head now. Its still so amazing to see all the details play, just as they are made just for us and our own unique needs God never has a “Canned response” when answering us and meeting our need, they are all made us for each and every one of us.

  6. My husband and I were talking about some very uncertain things in our future and I said. “I’m not worried. I’m excited and terrified.”

    He said, “I know God will take care of us, I just don’t know how.”

    I replied, “Don’t look at me, God never tells me anything.” (with regard to his plans for me).

    God never said it was peace like a calm, still pool. We’re in a river, holding on tight.

    Prayers for you, Mel.

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