Today when I woke up I quickly calculated my hours in the prone position and determined it, like so many other nights before, wasn’t enough rest to give me a glorious start to the tasks that lie ahead. There are people who need me to start their day and then others who will wait for me to give them information so they can complete their day. There are needs my family has and obligations to people I’ve never met before who we call bill collectors. Along the day’s journey will be many serendipitous moments; most of which I won’t come to realize as the best part of the day until well past the end of it. Oh well, what do the French say, “C’est la vie?” “That’s life.”
I’ve always admired those who were able to say at a wee age what they wanted to do in life and actually do it! It takes a tremendous amount of discipline and determination to hold task on something that literally takes a lifetime to develop. However, I would say the majority -- and I mean majority of people today never accomplish the desires of their heart. There’s too much getting caught up with this and taking care of that and waiting on whatever which keeps the dream from ever happening. Famous philosopher… John Lennon once said, “Life is what happens while you’re making plans.” Knowing this, I’ve had to ask myself a different question, “What kind of a life am I planning for?” Those of us who have faith in Christ put our trust in our Sovereign’s hands. We believe with this trust comes God’s direction in life…
“Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this…” Psalms 37:1-40 (NIV)
So, the question is, “Exactly, how much control over our lives do we have?” Answer… All of it! “But, but…” you say?
Q: How much control does God have?
A: All that we allow.
Well, wouldn’t that make us God?
Uh, did you have something to do with the air in your lungs right now?
Hmmm, all good questions… Let’s sit down and try to figure this out between meetings, preparing budgets, making presentations, putting out forest-fire des jeux, picking up kids, buying groceries, doing laundry, mowing the grass, volunteering at church, sleeping… do I need to continue?
“But, but… It’s not the life I want, the life I deserve. My neighbor cheats on his taxes and drives a …”
God, I am still convinced, is God… All knowing, all powerful, everywhere through all time. He is who we cannot be and sees what we cannot see. He does what we cannot understand and confuses the simple mind with in abstantia attendance to severe life and death circumstances. Whether you like it or not, whether you think you control your destiny or God commands the steps of your day, it doesn’t matter. God is God. You get everything you get -- from Him, you get everything you deserve… and you know what? That’s life! For some crazy reason it’s the life God plans for us.
He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases. He ransoms me from death and surrounds me with love and tender mercies. He fills my life with good things. My youth is renewed like the eagle's! The LORD gives righteousness and justice to all who are treated unfairly. He revealed his character to Moses and his deeds to the people of Israel. The LORD is merciful and gracious; he is slow to get angry and full of unfailing love. He will not constantly accuse us, nor remain angry forever. He has not punished us for all our sins, nor does he deal with us as we deserve. For his unfailing love toward those who fear him is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth. He has removed our rebellious acts as far away from us as the east is from the west. The LORD is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate to those who fear him. For he understands how weak we are; he knows we are only dust. Our days on earth are like grass; like wildflowers, we bloom and die. The wind blows, and we are gone— as though we had never been here. But the love of the LORD remains forever with those who fear him. His salvation extends to the children's children of those who are faithful to his covenant, of those who obey his commandments! The LORD has made the heavens his throne; from there he rules over everything. Psalms 103:3-19 (NLT)
I love this Psalm. It shows incredible love and mercy to us. Yet, at the same time, it reveals a pretty dismal finale to our breathing existence. Conclusion: God is still on the throne, in control, willing and wanting to bless those who obey and fear Him…
So, let’s go about our day deciding what to do, how and when -- where and if, all with the understanding that God’s in control of the things we control. I basically don’t understand it but… that’s life!
