Morning
My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts. — Isaiah 55:8–9
Life so often feels out of our control. In truth, most of life is out of our control. There are some painful seasons or experiences when we especially struggle with not being able to control or change our circumstances, which leaves us confused, anxious, and disheartened. From our viewpoint, it’s hard to make sense of it.
I have been through a several-years-long course of learning I am not in control, from losing both of my parents to cancer, to struggling with infertility, to the ups and downs of our adoption journey. I did what I could within each of these circumstances — I prayed, researched, sought the expertise of doctors, looked into treatment plans — but ultimately, the outcome was up to God. It was hard not to desire more control. I so desperately wished there was something more I could do to make those situations feel less chaotic and heartbreaking. But I realized the best thing for me to do was surrender because, in every circumstance, each heartache was building my faith and deepening my trust in God. The more I surrendered, the more peace I felt.
God is the One in control, better at governing it all than we could ever be. His ways are perfect and good.
This doesn’t always mean they feel good, but we can still trust they are because God is good. He never abandons us while we wrestle to try and understand. He carries us through by His love, and He changes our perspective by His grace. He transforms us, making us more into the likeness of Christ, when we can say in humility,
Nevertheless, not my will, but Yours, be done. — Luke 22:42
God allowed Job to endure great suffering and loss (Job 1–2); He allowed Hannah to be barren for many years (1 Samuel 1); He allowed Daniel to be thrown into the lions’ den (Daniel 6); He allowed Joseph to be sold into slavery (Genesis 37:18–36) and unjustly placed in prison (39:19–21); He allowed Paul to be a prisoner and be shipwrecked on his way to Rome (Acts 27). While these circumstances and events were out of their control, God’s great purposes were unfolding.
The Lord restored and healed, comforted and blessed, rescued and gave honor. His justice and mercy prevailed, and His power and grace brought salvation.
We can find courage from those who have gone before us when certain moments in life feel so painfully out of our control. We can keep trusting in the sovereign plans and deep love of the Lord.
Lord,
When everything feels out of control and it doesn’t make sense, please calm my heart. When circumstances are painful, please give me grace to trust You more. Surrendering is not always easy, and when it’s not, please help me abandon my false sense of control, taking hold of Your hand and Your peace instead. I find rest and hope this morning that You are in control and I am not. Amen.
Evening
Ten Thousand Things
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose. — Romans 8:28
God is doing so much behind the scenes that we may never know about or see in this life. John Piper captured this so well when he said, “God is always doing 10,000 things in your life, and you may be aware of three of them.”1 We cannot even scratch the surface of grasping all that is in His control, both in our lives and the entire universe.
I love jigsaw puzzles. And I couldn’t help but think of Piper’s words in terms of puzzle pieces. I envisioned God putting together a 10,000-piece puzzle, doing it at His perfect pace within His perfect sovereignty. It was a puzzle He alone could fully see, and although I could see only three pieces, I still trusted that the whole puzzle was coming together. And I knew it was for my benefit that He didn’t reveal it to me all at once.
- In life, God knows the big picture and exactly how all the pieces will perfectly fit together.
We are shown only a few pieces, giving us glimpses of the puzzle He is intently and affectionately completing. So pause and ask yourself: Can I be satisfied that only God knows what the final masterpiece is? Can I be content with just seeing a few pieces of the puzzle? Can I make peace with not knowing all He is doing behind the scenes, trusting He is in control of the bigger picture?
As His children, we take one day at a time with our Father, abiding in His sovereignty. We cannot see the whole picture, so we seek the guidance and wisdom of the One who does. Proverbs says,
Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails. — Proverbs 19:21 NIV
While it isn’t bad to make plans, we should do so through prayer while holding our plans loosely. We do not know what tomorrow will bring — only He does — so we continue to say,
If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that. — James 4:15
Don’t hold too tightly to attempts to control life and daily plans, because it can rob you from living in the peace that comes with trusting God. Instead, know that day by day, piece by piece, God’s good plans will be accomplished in your life. He is in control, working behind the scenes. He is leading you as He intentionally fits each puzzle piece of your life together, designing it all out of His faithfulness and love.
Lord,
In Your hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of all mankind (Job 12:10). Your ways of governing life are perfect. My very breath is in Your hands — how can I not trust You with everything, Lord?
Day by day, I seek Your will and wisdom, guidance and grace. Lead me as I make plans, and help me hold them loosely.
Although I do not see the whole picture, I am at peace knowing that You work all things together for good. I rely on You as You work behind the scenes, not only fitting together the puzzle of my life but also fitting all of our lives together into a much grander picture to display Your glory. Amen.
1. John Piper, “God Is Always Doing 10,000 Things in Your Life,” Desiring God, January 1, 2013, https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/god-is-always-doing-10000-things-in-your-life.
Excerpted with permission from Untroubled Heart by Kara Stout, copyright Kara Stout.
* * *
Your Turn
Does your life feel out of control? Maybe you’re looking at a few pieces of the puzzle and wondering what God is doing. Hang on to Him. He’s got it under control and He loves you! ~ Devotionals Daily