Who is in Control?
By Carolyn Dale Newell
Rejoice in the Lord always. Again, I will say, rejoice! Philippians 4:4 NKJV
When the bills are coming due, but not the paycheck. When the unexpected illness occurs. When everything around the house falls apart, including your relationships. When your kids are traveling up and down the interstate. Who is in control of it all?
I hope it isn’t you, and I hope it isn’t me either. Ah… but we want to be in the captain’s seat Because when we’re not in charge, we worry.
We are forgetting one important fact. Something you probably already know, but we tend to need a reminder. God is in control. Did you just utter a sigh of relief? I know I did. What a load off our backs. God controls the out-of-control life that we cannot control.
It is impossible to worry when we rejoice. We cannot be anxious while we praise the Lord. When we recite His attributes, our confidence soars.
God is creator and sustainer. We can bless the Lord for His love and tender mercies. We can smile as we shout about His grace, strength, and joy. We can praise Him for His peace. We can worship Him in victory.
Turn your worry into worship. Let’s begin by counting our blessings. That should take so long that we won’t remember what we were worried about in the first place.
If you have breath in your lungs, you are blessed. If you are healthy, you are blessed. Maybe your health isn’t great, but somebody has it much worse, so yes, you are blessed. If you have a roof over your head, you are blessed. If you have paid your bills, you are blessed.
If you haven’t paid your bills yet, you are still blessed, because God said He would supply our every need (Philippians 4:19). If you have a job, you are blessed. If you don’t have a job, thank God for the door He will open.
Now, what was bothering us? God is in complete control, so stop trying to do His job. No wonder we get stressed. We are trying to do the work of God, something we were never equipped to handle.
Our instructions are to rejoice. It doesn’t say rejoice about your struggles. We will have trouble in this world. Jesus told us that. Our verse says: “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again, I will say, rejoice!”
We rejoice in spite of our trials, not instead of them. Jesus Christ is our joy.
Don’t continue to allow tribulations, the world, people, and the devil to snatch your joy. Cast your cares on Jesus, and turn your worry into worship.
Read Philippians 4:4-9. Today, make a quick list of everything you can thank God for. Keep it handy (on the fridge or phone) and refer to it the next time you feel troubled.
Father God, We rejoice today because You have it all under control. We can rest in the comfort of knowing You’ve got it. Help me remember this truth when I am inclined to pick up my life’s remote control. You are the Captain of my salvation. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
© 2018 by Carolyn Dale Newell. All rights reserved.
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