This past week I took 25 high school girls to Church Camp at NAU.
The theme was releasing control… releasing the chains that only Jesus can unlock.
This hit home for me.
You might have noticed I’ve been MIA in your inbox and social media lately.
I’ve been practicing this very act of releasing control.
I want everything to be His. My time, my work, my priorities. I needed to get off my path, so I could find His.
Because lately, I’ve been having lots of conversations with lots of doctors.
My brain cancer isn’t so stable anymore and we are trying to figure out next steps. In addition to doctor appointments, I’ve spent SO MANY late nights researching options and talking with other’s who’ve experienced the same treatments I’m researching.
All of my energy was going into this… trying to control my outcome.
But I burnt out.
I don’t know what the right thing to do is. There are so many variables.
But the one thing I do know is that no matter what I do, God will bend it to His will.
And do you know what happens when I continually release my false sense of control over to God?
Life gets a lot lighter.
Because when you release the control you thought you had, you’re really releasing all the baggage you’ve accumulated in the process…
The worries… the doubts… the fears… the what ifs.
All of it it His.
And when we give it freely over to God, He can do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine. (Ephesians 3:20)
He carries our burdens.
“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” -Matthew 11:28
He gives us new focus.
“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” -Matthew 6:33
He makes a way.
“Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert”.-Isaiah 43:19
He cares for us specifically.
“But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned,
and the flame shall not consume you. -Isaiah 43:1-2
He empowers us.
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. -2 Corinthians 12:9
He reminds us that worrying is a waste of time.
“Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?” –Matthew 6:27
So I give it all to Him.
And I wonder if it’s time for you to do the same?
If there is something that’s keeping you up at night, give it over.
Release control, and rest in God’s truths.
He’s got us.
XO
Andy
