Letting go of the wheel

Control.

It is such a simple word that can have so much power over so many of us. In our chaotic lives we often strive to gain control. Control makes us feel safe, powerful, or some sort of calm. It comes in many different forms, for some people it can be organization of material things, or for others it may be control over relationships. In my case, I wanted to be in charge of my life and my future. I constantly strived to manage my grades in school, or my friend groups, or sports. It was always in my mind what I wanted to do for my future, where I wanted to go to college, what I wanted to do career wise, and what my life would look like. When these “dreams” I was so set on achieving began to seem not as pretty as I imagined, and those “goals” became a lot harder to reach, I realized it is impossible to be in control of my life. I was trying to plan out my life, but I learned fairly quickly that control is deceiving. As I prayed about this issue that was on my mind, feeling that there was no path that was fitted right for me, the Lord kept saying, “I have a plan.” Jeremiah 29:11 came to mind, “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.'” I finally surrendered this need for control and stability, and handed my broken life back over to God. There was a peace and freedom I felt at last that I had been searching for the whole time. (1 Peter 5:7 “cast all your anxieties on him because he cares for you.”) I put my trust in Christ, because I couldn’t do it on my own.

When we “let go of the wheel” and allow God to have control, things are able to go much smoother. When we can’t see what is beyond the season we are currently in, God is looking at the big picture. He is the only one who knows what’s in store for our future. We can live freely without worry or fear of the future, because he tells us he will provide a way. When we submit to him and place our trust in his hands, he will not fail us. Psalm 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” One of my favorite mottos is, “let go, and let God.” This speaks to me as a reminder that I don’t have to be in control, God knows my future, and he says he will make my paths straight. If you let go and let God, you can have peace and joy because he is greater than the world.

You are beyond compare

Often us women find ourselves in an unending cycle of insecurities. We have eyes of a hawk when it comes to picking out the little things we don’t like about ourselves. By doing so, we turn to comparing ourselves to other girls, usually “prettier”, “smarter”, or “healthier” than us. Social media makes it especially easy to compare because everyone makes a “better, more perfect” version of themselves on their Instagram or social media. But God doesn’t want us to compare ourselves to others. He tells us we are beyond compare (Psalm 139:13-16 “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made”).

Thanksgiving in a broken world

In a world full of destruction, pain, sorrow, and brokenness, how can we have Thanksgiving? Lives filled with hurt and sorrow, make it nearly impossible to find joy and thankfulness. If we take just a moment to move out of ourselves, and look into God’s Word, our perspective will change completely. If we fix our eyes back on our Creator, instead of this broken world, our lives will be made better than ever, and we will become new creations (2 Corinthians 5:17). For He is Greater than this world (1 John 4:4-6). Our Heavenly Father is chasing after our hearts and all we have to do is turn to his peace and look beyond this loud world.