“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11
A few months ago Megan and I went to Tampa for a friend’s wedding. While we were there, we used Megan’s GPS to help us get around. Since I was driving and wanted all my concentration on the road, Megan would read the instructions from the GPS to me and I would turn where she told me to. Each time she gave me a set of instructions, I would ask her for the next turn after the one coming up. She teased me about needing all that information and then I said to her, “Is it such a big deal to give me more information so I’ll feel better about where we’re going?"
I’ve asked God this same question recently, “Would it be such a big deal for You to give me a little more information so I’ll feel better about this?” . . . . . . Silence. Apparently, it would be a big deal.
I like to know where I’m going. I like to know when I’m going to get there. And I like to know how I’m going to get there. When I travel, this is easy to do with a map. Even if I know the route I’m taking, when I’m on a long trip, I like to look at the map. It lets me see how far I’ve gone, how much further I have to go and it gives me little milestones to look forward to. Like, “Oh, in 20 miles I’m going to pass Macon.” It kind of breaks up the trip for me. And there’s something about knowing how long something is going to take that just makes me feel better. Like when I’m stuck in a really bad traffic jam, I wish so much that I could stop someone going the other way and ask them how long I’m going to be stuck in traffic. I just think it would make the waiting so much easier if I knew how long it was going to take.
I thought this would be a great idea for my life too. My first thought was that if I knew I had to wait, say, three years for something to happen, I think it would make it so much easier to wait. But when I really think about it, the cold hard fact is this, I’m pretty sure that if God told me something was going to happen in three years this is what I’d do: In year two, day 360, I’d start looking for the thing to happen. And I’d become so focused on the thing I’m waiting for that I’d miss everything else around me. And as year two, day 365 got closer and closer, I'd become more and more anxious for the thing to happen. I would be obsessed with the thing. I wouldn’t be able to get it out of my mind. I’d be looking for it everywhere, “Is that it?” “Is that what I’m supposed to be waiting for?” “I wonder if that was it and I missed it.”
Here’s another scenario: In year three, day five ~ oh who am I kidding ~ in year three, day two, I’d start to doubt and wonder if it was really going to happen. I’d start to doubt that I had heard from God or that God even had a plan for me. I'd start to think that I needed to do something to move things along. I’d also probably be like Abraham’s wife Sarah and take matters into my own hands. And we all know what happened there (Genesis 16).
The fact of the matter is this . . . . my need to have all the details and to be in the driver’s seat makes me feel in control. It makes me feel safe and comfortable. And I think the hardest lesson that I will ever have to learn is to let go and let God be in control. I’m not going to lie, I break out in a cold sweat just thinking about it.
God knows each one of us better than we know ourselves. And, He knows that if we had all the details, we’d mess things up in a very big way. He also knows that there are some times when we just wouldn’t be able to handle all the information that He has. For instance, if He told me something I really wanted wasn’t going to happen for like 15 years, I’d get pretty cranky and start trying to get it done quicker on my own.
God has the whole picture. He has the entire map. Only He knows were we are going and the best way for us to get there and the proper time for us to arrive.
When I get right down to it, if I’m completely honest with myself, my need to feel in control is all about trust. That’s what it all boils down to. Do I really trust that someone else will do things the way I want them done? Do I trust that things will be done in my timeframe? What if someone else is driving and I want to go in another direction? Or what if I don’t want to go where they are going?
But isn’t that the whole point? We’re not supposed to go where we want to or when we want to go. God wants us to trust Him completely and rely on Him and only Him. Remember, He has the entire map. Only God knows the route that is best for us to take. Therefore, He is the only One who can lead us.
In Joshua 3:3-4 the officers tell the Israelites, “When you see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, and the priests, who are Levites, carrying it, you are to move out from your positions and follow it. Then you will know which way to go . . .”
In other words, God is in the lead. Not Joshua, not the officials, not the priests and not the people. God and only God will lead the way and show us where we need to go.
Sometimes God gives us a direction and wants us to step out in faith before He'll make the path clear. Joshua 3:13 says, “And as soon as the priests who carry the ark of the Lord – the Lord of all the earth – set foot in the Jordan, it’s waters flowing downstream will be cut off and stand up in a heap.” God didn’t tell them to go stand on the bank of the river and wait for Him to stop the water. He told the priests to step into the river first and then the waters would be held back. God wanted His children to take a step of faith first. It was only after they took that step that God held back the waters of the Jordan River.
God doesn’t want us to have a complete map of where we’re going. Because if we did, we would follow our own route ~ we would go the way we wanted and when we wanted to go. God knows that if we had the complete map, we would rely on ourselves to get there and not rely on Him.
I think that my unwillingness to relinquish control stands in the way of God being able to accomplish certain things in my life. Because my need to run things over and over in my head trying to figure them out, causes me to focus on the thing and not on God. Only God knows His plan for me. And, therefore, only He can lead me there.
Have you ever been in a car with a “backseat driver?” They are constantly telling you where you need to go and what you need to do and it gets very confusing and frustrating. Invariably you get so confused that you take a turn that you weren’t supposed to take. Then the backseat driver starts yelling at you and the next thing you know, you’re lost.
I wonder if that’s what it’s like to God when we try to tell Him where we think we should be going? He doesn’t get confused, but we certainly do. And the next thing we know, we’ve taken a turn that we shouldn’t have and we get lost. And if we take too many wrong turns, eventually, we have no idea how to get back to where we’re supposed to be.
Thankfully, though, God will show us the way if we just trust Him. If we let Him lead us, if we let Him take control, then He will take us back to where we belong and He will get us to our ultimate destination.
A few years ago I went to a concert with a friend. As we left the arena, I thought we should go one way to get to the car. My friend said we should go another way. The way I suggested was crammed full of people but it was the way we had come in so it was familiar to me. I hate large crowds. I always feel very claustrophobic when I’m in a huge crowd. My friend knew this and suggested we go another way which looked clear but to me it didn’t seem like the right direction. So I said, “Are you sure?” He turned to me, took my hand, looked me straight in the eye and with all the boldness and confidence in the world, asked “Do you trust me?” I looked back at him and immediately replied, “Yes I do.” He was right. He knew a way to get out of the arena that was much quicker and easier than the way I thought we should go.
God is there for us every single day knowing which way is the best way for us. And every single day God takes us by the hand, looks us straight in the eye and asks us with the ultimate boldness and confidence, “Do you trust Me?"
Do you?
Remember: "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6
Dear Heavenly Father, thank You so much for not giving us all the details of our journey. Thank you for protecting us from information overload and from ourselves. Please forgive us for all the times we try to take control and don’t put our trust in You. Help me, especially, to relinquish control and let You lead me. I could be here a very long time trying to learn this particular lesson so thank You also for Your patience as I get in Your way. We are so grateful that you are so faithful and trustworthy. Guide us in Your ways, Lord. And help us to not get lost. Amen. ~robin
A special thanks to one of my Bible buddies, Tyson, for pointing me to Proverbs 3:5-6.
A few months ago Megan and I went to Tampa for a friend’s wedding. While we were there, we used Megan’s GPS to help us get around. Since I was driving and wanted all my concentration on the road, Megan would read the instructions from the GPS to me and I would turn where she told me to. Each time she gave me a set of instructions, I would ask her for the next turn after the one coming up. She teased me about needing all that information and then I said to her, “Is it such a big deal to give me more information so I’ll feel better about where we’re going?"
I’ve asked God this same question recently, “Would it be such a big deal for You to give me a little more information so I’ll feel better about this?” . . . . . . Silence. Apparently, it would be a big deal.
I like to know where I’m going. I like to know when I’m going to get there. And I like to know how I’m going to get there. When I travel, this is easy to do with a map. Even if I know the route I’m taking, when I’m on a long trip, I like to look at the map. It lets me see how far I’ve gone, how much further I have to go and it gives me little milestones to look forward to. Like, “Oh, in 20 miles I’m going to pass Macon.” It kind of breaks up the trip for me. And there’s something about knowing how long something is going to take that just makes me feel better. Like when I’m stuck in a really bad traffic jam, I wish so much that I could stop someone going the other way and ask them how long I’m going to be stuck in traffic. I just think it would make the waiting so much easier if I knew how long it was going to take.
I thought this would be a great idea for my life too. My first thought was that if I knew I had to wait, say, three years for something to happen, I think it would make it so much easier to wait. But when I really think about it, the cold hard fact is this, I’m pretty sure that if God told me something was going to happen in three years this is what I’d do: In year two, day 360, I’d start looking for the thing to happen. And I’d become so focused on the thing I’m waiting for that I’d miss everything else around me. And as year two, day 365 got closer and closer, I'd become more and more anxious for the thing to happen. I would be obsessed with the thing. I wouldn’t be able to get it out of my mind. I’d be looking for it everywhere, “Is that it?” “Is that what I’m supposed to be waiting for?” “I wonder if that was it and I missed it.”
Here’s another scenario: In year three, day five ~ oh who am I kidding ~ in year three, day two, I’d start to doubt and wonder if it was really going to happen. I’d start to doubt that I had heard from God or that God even had a plan for me. I'd start to think that I needed to do something to move things along. I’d also probably be like Abraham’s wife Sarah and take matters into my own hands. And we all know what happened there (Genesis 16).
The fact of the matter is this . . . . my need to have all the details and to be in the driver’s seat makes me feel in control. It makes me feel safe and comfortable. And I think the hardest lesson that I will ever have to learn is to let go and let God be in control. I’m not going to lie, I break out in a cold sweat just thinking about it.
God knows each one of us better than we know ourselves. And, He knows that if we had all the details, we’d mess things up in a very big way. He also knows that there are some times when we just wouldn’t be able to handle all the information that He has. For instance, if He told me something I really wanted wasn’t going to happen for like 15 years, I’d get pretty cranky and start trying to get it done quicker on my own.
God has the whole picture. He has the entire map. Only He knows were we are going and the best way for us to get there and the proper time for us to arrive.
When I get right down to it, if I’m completely honest with myself, my need to feel in control is all about trust. That’s what it all boils down to. Do I really trust that someone else will do things the way I want them done? Do I trust that things will be done in my timeframe? What if someone else is driving and I want to go in another direction? Or what if I don’t want to go where they are going?
But isn’t that the whole point? We’re not supposed to go where we want to or when we want to go. God wants us to trust Him completely and rely on Him and only Him. Remember, He has the entire map. Only God knows the route that is best for us to take. Therefore, He is the only One who can lead us.
In Joshua 3:3-4 the officers tell the Israelites, “When you see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, and the priests, who are Levites, carrying it, you are to move out from your positions and follow it. Then you will know which way to go . . .”
In other words, God is in the lead. Not Joshua, not the officials, not the priests and not the people. God and only God will lead the way and show us where we need to go.
Sometimes God gives us a direction and wants us to step out in faith before He'll make the path clear. Joshua 3:13 says, “And as soon as the priests who carry the ark of the Lord – the Lord of all the earth – set foot in the Jordan, it’s waters flowing downstream will be cut off and stand up in a heap.” God didn’t tell them to go stand on the bank of the river and wait for Him to stop the water. He told the priests to step into the river first and then the waters would be held back. God wanted His children to take a step of faith first. It was only after they took that step that God held back the waters of the Jordan River.
God doesn’t want us to have a complete map of where we’re going. Because if we did, we would follow our own route ~ we would go the way we wanted and when we wanted to go. God knows that if we had the complete map, we would rely on ourselves to get there and not rely on Him.
I think that my unwillingness to relinquish control stands in the way of God being able to accomplish certain things in my life. Because my need to run things over and over in my head trying to figure them out, causes me to focus on the thing and not on God. Only God knows His plan for me. And, therefore, only He can lead me there.
Have you ever been in a car with a “backseat driver?” They are constantly telling you where you need to go and what you need to do and it gets very confusing and frustrating. Invariably you get so confused that you take a turn that you weren’t supposed to take. Then the backseat driver starts yelling at you and the next thing you know, you’re lost.
I wonder if that’s what it’s like to God when we try to tell Him where we think we should be going? He doesn’t get confused, but we certainly do. And the next thing we know, we’ve taken a turn that we shouldn’t have and we get lost. And if we take too many wrong turns, eventually, we have no idea how to get back to where we’re supposed to be.
Thankfully, though, God will show us the way if we just trust Him. If we let Him lead us, if we let Him take control, then He will take us back to where we belong and He will get us to our ultimate destination.
A few years ago I went to a concert with a friend. As we left the arena, I thought we should go one way to get to the car. My friend said we should go another way. The way I suggested was crammed full of people but it was the way we had come in so it was familiar to me. I hate large crowds. I always feel very claustrophobic when I’m in a huge crowd. My friend knew this and suggested we go another way which looked clear but to me it didn’t seem like the right direction. So I said, “Are you sure?” He turned to me, took my hand, looked me straight in the eye and with all the boldness and confidence in the world, asked “Do you trust me?” I looked back at him and immediately replied, “Yes I do.” He was right. He knew a way to get out of the arena that was much quicker and easier than the way I thought we should go.
God is there for us every single day knowing which way is the best way for us. And every single day God takes us by the hand, looks us straight in the eye and asks us with the ultimate boldness and confidence, “Do you trust Me?"
Do you?
Remember: "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6
Dear Heavenly Father, thank You so much for not giving us all the details of our journey. Thank you for protecting us from information overload and from ourselves. Please forgive us for all the times we try to take control and don’t put our trust in You. Help me, especially, to relinquish control and let You lead me. I could be here a very long time trying to learn this particular lesson so thank You also for Your patience as I get in Your way. We are so grateful that you are so faithful and trustworthy. Guide us in Your ways, Lord. And help us to not get lost. Amen. ~robin
A special thanks to one of my Bible buddies, Tyson, for pointing me to Proverbs 3:5-6.
1 comment:
This prayer is my prayer today. Thank you, Robin, for being a blessing to me!
Susan H
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