Chapter 2 begins. In my book chapter 2 is all about losing control. Not losing your mind.. although for me, the two seem to go hand in hand. It's about letting go. Realizing that as you wait, usually the things you are waiting on are out of your control. Relinquishing that control to God. Prayerfully knowing that you can't not make things different, and being okay with that. In the back of the chapter there are questions, and one question is "Think of a situation where a forced wait made (or is making you) realize you were (are) not in control."
I've been thinking long and hard about this one. And of course the first situation to pop into my mind is our current status with assignment. Bishop called on Friday and had given our paperwork to two congregations. One of them sounds like a winner, just what we want. And the other is a bit unknown for us. It's not sounding like a good fit for us. But as we wait for paperwork from the congregations, I am trying very very hard to keep an open mind. And it's hard for me to be so out of control. I have been spending time as I feed Clara in the early morning hours with God. I pray and talk to him. I ask him the usual things, keep my family safe, bless my friends. And after reading this chapter, last night, I added something. "God, help me to accept that maybe this first call won't be exactly what we are looking for. Help me to accept that I have no control over this process. Allow me to let the Holy Spirit work through the call committee of these places, and through Robert as he looks over paperwork and possibly interviews. Help me to be open, supportive, and accepting of the decisions made by other people, and Lord guide them to what is best for Robert in his ministry."
Whew. That's a hard one for me. The Martha in me, and we all know that she usually reigns supreme, wants to pray to God for a big parsonage with a fenced in yard and sliding glass for the doggie door. And oh yeah, 3 bedrooms, 2 bath, big kitchen. Good congregation with little to no turmoil, easy first call for Robert. That would be me trying to control it! And I know these places exist. But I have to accept what the Holy Spirit gives us. I have to let what God has planned unfold without my little Martha fingers getting in there at all. It's out of my control, I need to step back, take a deep breath, and accept it! Lord, help me to let your Holy Spirit work in our lives. Amen!
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What ever you do please don't pray for patience because then I think God might well decide to give you the opportunity to develop your patience. I think the idea of praying for acceptance is a much better plan. Letting God be in charge of everything is wise beyond your years. I pray this will work out to be a lifestyle and not simply an idea quickly abandoned when you think you can do a better job than God is doing at controling your destiny. I pray this for myself as well. Boy you are right it is sometimes difficult. Golly I'd say it is almost always not what I want to do. Blessings.
ReplyDeleteHere's another one for you: the Serenity Prayer by Reinhold Niebuhr...
ReplyDeleteGod grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.
Living one day at a time;
Enjoying one moment at a time;
Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
Taking, as He did, this sinful world
as it is, not as I would have it;
Trusting that He will make all things right
if I surrender to His Will;
That I may be reasonably happy in this life
and supremely happy with Him
Forever in the next.
Amen.