“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,’ saith the LORD.”
– Isaiah 55:8

Here is an idea we have been talking a lot about in church lately: anything that winds up your emotions – like frustration, jealousy, feeling hopeless, or spitefulness – is directly related to your need for control and a desire to protect your ego. If someone says something you don’t like, and you get angry, hurt, or bitter, that is about you.  If you look into the future and start to worry about how things are going to turn out, that is about you, not God.

Over the last four years I have had some major life changes: changes in jobs, kids changing schools, a house renovation, and so on. Some of these I have handled well, and some I haven’t handled so well. So what was different in what I handled well and what I didn’t handle so well?  The difference was whether I saw the situation as something I had to fix or solve or something I was going to give God the credit for.  If my house floods, I have the choice to look into the future and get upset about it, or I can believe that God has purpose in the situation.

In Romans 8:31 it says, “What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?”  So in the end, it really boils down to something very simple.  Do you believe that God is in all things, that God controls all things, that God cares for you?  If this is true, then nothing goes beyond His plan. When we are not walking in His joy because of the circumstances around us, then we do not believe that He is in control and that He cares for us.

In Psalm 139:8-10 it says, “If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: If I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.  If I take the wings of the morning, And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; Even there shall thy hand lead me, And thy right hand shall hold me.”

So here is the challenge: Next time you find yourself in a difficult situation, are you going to turn to God and His love and plan or to your control? If you turn to His plan, you can be filled with love, joy, and peace. If you turn to your control, you can only be filled with anxiety, fear, jealousy, and emotions.

Hope you have a great week.

– Written by Jeremiah

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