Two-minute read.
“I surrender.” The words I wrote in my journal this morning after spending a night wrestling with the Lord about a situation I have no control over. My heart aches in my chest, my watery eyes overflow at a moment’s notice, and my smile doesn’t come easily. A situation I have prayed and fasted for has shown no signs of hope, and if anything, seems worse than ever. Once again, I must ask the Lord for help to forgive, keep my heart soft, and bless them. None of those things I want to do, but I know I must.
Even when we spend years committing our plans to the Lord by praying over our calendar, our family and friends, and anything else, it doesn’t mean we’ll get what we want. And it certainly doesn’t mean we have control. Every so often, God reminds me I’m not the boss of Him. Typically, I find the lesson painful, as I do today.
Our Savior moves on our behalf every day, but most of the time we don’t even notice. We take for granted the safe drive to work, or the good night’s sleep we had. We don’t notice the breaths we take without even thinking. When we walk to the fridge for a snack, we forget who provided it. None of us can do anything without God’s help. He fills our lungs with breath; He gives us life; we owe everything to Him.
“Committed” in this verse means “to roll” something onto another. Right now I’m rolling my angry thoughts, revengeful notions, and hurtful feelings onto the Lord. When I opened this page and saw the topic, I took a screenshot and sent it to a friend who knows the details, with the caption “God does have a sense of humor!”
But you know what, my heart feels lighter because as I rolled all of that onto Him, emptying myself at the foot of the cross, He filled me back up. Pouring His unconditional love into my soul, the Creator rejuvenated His creation.
And I praise Him for it.
Commit whatever plans you have to the Lord. Lay them at the foot of the cross, and then watch as God acts on your behalf.
Journal Questions:
- What outcome are you trying to control?
- What would surrender look like?
- How can you trust God with the results?
Stressbuster:
Declutter one small area.
