Ok… first, as you probably notice there’s some changes going on around here on my blog. Good things. No, make that GREAT things. I’m so excited I can hardly contain myself. Seriously. But that’s not what today’s blog is about. Far from it actually…
It’s actually about struggles in your (or my) life.
Do you ever seem to notice that when you are struggling with something, everything around you seems to be pointed toward that one or multiple thing(s) that you are “missing”? Or that the things you are struggling with just seems to become more elevated as you pass through them.
This happened to me this weekend. Everywhere I looked, read and watched became consumed with what I have been struggling with. Other people brought it up to me, commercials on tv, discussions on the web… it seemed for a while that everything in the world was against me. I actually tried turn away from everything and be in silence for a while.
But even as I sat in silence, my thoughts overwhelmed me and the struggles continued.
Why is this? Why is it that we let ourselves feel so crazy over something that we (usually) have no control over? Solomon wrote “Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and He will establish your plans.” (Proverbs 16:3)
Why don’t we let go of our struggles easily and give them up to God? Why do we hold onto things and try to fix them so much so… that sometimes we make it worse for ourselves? I will be the first person to say that I am not innocent in that. I am one of the biggest control-freak people out there. But I know it. And I’m honestly trying to work on it.
The reason why we don’t let things go? It’s hard to give things up. Whether you are a control freak like me or not… it’s just hard.
As you have been reading here recently, I’ve been trying to let things go. To give up control. But sometimes I think that the control within us isn’t the issue. What if God is allowing the enemy to refine us as He allowed with Job. Or maybe it is spiritual battles taking place in the heavenlies over the works that God has planned for us that the enemy is trying to destroy.
What Peter wrote to the early Christians I think applies to us today… “Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.” (2 Peter 4:12-13)
And Paul contributes much the same to the church in Philippi… “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” (Philippeans 4:6)
While the things that I struggle with are different than your battles, we each need to pray – and be thankful for our struggles.
There’s no doubt that the “with thanksgiving” part is the hardest in my life. Rarely can I be found as a thankful person for the trials that I am going through.
How about with you? What are your thoughts about the struggles you go (or have gone) through?? Do you have any words of wisdom for me or others?
I think Mother Teresa said it best, “I know God will not give me anything I can’t handle. I just wish that He didn’t trust me so much.”
Oh, I hadn’t heard that Mother Theresa quote before. What a great one! Will need to remember it!
I love that quote from Mother Theresa – though I love all of her quotes. And I’m so excited for you about whatever new things are coming – I can’t wait to see them!
You know the verses to know. It is a battle, but this too shall pass. I’m quite a control freak myself and really have learned to let it go. You’ll get there. Some things will be easier than others, though. Beautifully written.
I’m sorry to hear you are struggling. And I know what you mean – it does seem like the things that we are struggling with seem to be everywhere we turn.
.-= liz´s last blog ..Parenting Firsts: Recitals =-.
I have expressed similar thoughts to Mother Teresa’s many times! God has a lot more faith in me than I do!
You did a great job of expressing yourself in this post and in applying the Scriptures to the situation.
I’m a control freak too, and I’ve been forced to let go lately. I find a lot of freedom in letting go because it means I’m not responsible for the outcome. (I can’t control the outcome anyway!) I recently wrote a similar post called “Letting Go” (http://wp.me/pG2Wu-aO) It’s so hard!
You’re going to make it! I’m praying for you.
~Jennifer
I have a hard time giving my struggles over to God…I think I can “fix” them myself. I’m a silly human.
I so understand this. Let go and let GOD, is my constant saying to myself. I am a control freak to put it mildly, but have learned through the storm that I gotta let it go or it will consume me and I’ll miss out on all the JOY that really is there if I just relax already! So much easier said than done! Prayers! In the end the things that we stress over or struggle with don’t matter, most of the time is has nothing to do with our salvation. And that is all that matters. Am I being Jesus to someone today? Is my daily challenge to myself.
.-= Christine´s last blog ..Mother’s Day =-.
Oh my friend, I know your pain! Struggling is never easy even when we know it’s for our greater good. I will continue to pray that God gives you the strength to walk it out and the comfort to know He’s right there with you in the midst of it.
My recent struggle was was being off work sick for 4 weeks and not feeling better or knowing when I would be able to go back. Initially it was easy as I had a diagnosis (unlike the last time it happened, 2 years ago) and was about to start new medication. However, the medication didn’t kick in as quickly as I’d hoped and I got frustrated that MY plan and MY timetable weren’t working out. I had to learn that it was ok to be where I was, and that I had to trust God and turn every day over to Him. It’s so tempting when things aren’t as we would like them to be to think that ‘today’ doesn’t count until we get to the place we want to be. But every day counts, no matter where we are in life. God can be at work in us and through us in any moment – and most often is doing so in our weakness. But it’s easier said than done!