The world we find ourselves in right now is one that was unimaginable just a few weeks ago. The things we thought so secure, we now see are so fragile. The life we thought we could control, we now see how much of an illusion that was.
Even though this is scary, there is blessing in it also. One of the blessings is that is it forces us to live according to the reality that we “knew” all along, yet mostly ignored. THIS is the true reality – this is what is really real :
- The only security we have is Christ.
- The only things we can control our own thoughts, choices and responses.
In this reality, I find myself still trying to make it secure, and trying to grab the steering wheel and control outcomes. But we don’t need to. It’s incredibly freeing to let go of all the trying and just trust God. And we CAN trust Him. He is sovereignly in control – so we don’t need to be. He is with us and His grace is enough for anything we are facing.
One of my favorite verses of instruction is 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Rejoice always
Pray continually
Give thanks in all circumstances
For this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus
So if you find yourself scrambling for control to try to make this new world make sense again, I encourage you to let that go, and instead do these things instead.
Rejoice always : find joy – it’s there. When you find it, don’t be afraid to smile, laugh and enjoy those moments.
Pray continually : pour our your hearts to God, He is with you and will sustain you. And lift up the many needs of our friends and families, and the world, to Him.
And the most powerful of all, give thanks in all circumstances. There is ALWAYS something to be grateful for and gratitude changes us from the inside. It strengthens us and enables us to love God, to trust Him and to love others.