I’ve said it and heard it hundreds of times, “You got this!” The sentiment is always brimming with positive cheers behind it. And sometimes, yeah, I’ve “got” it. When I practiced diligently with my high school basketball team and made my shots in the game, I “got” it. When I followed the recipe for a wonderful meal and my husband and I enjoyed every bite, yeah, I “got” it. But more often than not, whether faced with a huge challenge or a pile of small challenges, the truth is that no, I don’t ‘got’ this.
[easy-tweet tweet=”My strength is limited as are all of my resources. But God’s resources are unlimited. His strength does not fail.” user=”@JaymeHull” hashtags=”#control”]Recently, I was rocking my one-year-old son to sleep. I was exhausted. I usually take that time to pray things over him and for him, but that night, I took my exhaustion to the Lord and thanked Him. I thanked Him that He does not grow tired or weary and that I can always come to Him for whatever need I have even if it’s as small and simple as needing a bit more strength or a lot more rest.
Becoming a parent makes you realize how little control over life you actually have. In this first year of parenthood with a baby who was placed in our arms and now leaps in and out of our arms, there have been occasions when I did not feel prepared or in the driver’s seat at all.
I remember the first Sunday we were taking our tiny tot to the nursery. I dug my feet into the passenger’s seat floor as if to slam on the breaks and said breathlessly through tears to my husband, “I’m not ok! I’m not ok! I’m not ready for this.” He looked at me with a glisten in his eyes and a steady smile as he replied, “Babe, we don’t got this, but God’s got this.”
That’s been our go-to line for a while, now.
When my husband’s family of origin fell apart once a lifetime of secret sin came to light.
When we rushed home to be by my grandmother’s bedside as she drew her last breath.
When our son had to get an MRI at 6 months on his brain.
When we were given less than 3 months to pack up a whole house that had been our place to live for five years all whilst firming up details on an offer and lots of necessary repairs on a new home while our busy baby ran underfoot.
When more family members’ secret sins spilled over into our worlds.
When the clock struck 2 AM again for the umpteenth night in a row as we finally turned off the lights.
In all of those things, we’ve learned that no, we don’t have any control over those things ultimately, but God does because He is Lord over all.
There is freedom in recognizing that you are not in control, but God is.
A cry out to the Lord for help, wisdom, guidance, or whatever else we need is only a breath away.
The whole “adulting” process is hard not just because being an adult is hard, but because life is hard. Even when life is hard, God remains good.
That lifts the burden for me of desperately wanting to be in control when life feels like a runaway rollercoaster.
Maybe you feel like you’re about to run off the road with no e-brake right now.
Maybe you’re trying desperately to slam on the brake pedal or even the gas pedal, only to realize you’re not in the driver’s seat.
Friend, who or what is driving your life?
Who ultimately reigns over all that causes us to feel powerless?
THE Lord.
Don’t look at all the things you’re about to hit in the road or are that are about to hit you. Look to Jesus. He’s in the Driver’s seat and will steer you just where you need to go. Any repairs that are necessary to the vehicle of your life, He is more than able to fix the way they are supposed to be.
You don’t got this, but God does.
For more wonderful articles visit Emily’s website http://www.emilypmeyer.com
