Are You In Control?
The human heart plans the way, but the LORD directs the steps. Proverbs 16:9
Last week, I was driving down the road early one crisp morning and saw a man out walking his dog. Next to him was his young son, bundled in a jacket on his scooter trying to keep up with his dad. The little boy had one hand on the scooter handlebar and in the other hand he was tightly clutching a large stuffed dog. The boy was struggling to keep his balance on the scooter while he held the stuffed animal. His father kept reaching over to grab the handlebar to help his son steady himself and keep his balance so he wouldn’t fall over. This happened each time the boy pushed off the ground with his foot to ride the scooter.
I could just imagine the conversation between them when getting ready to walk the dog. The son probably saw his dad putting the leash on the dog and asked him to come along on his scooter. The father said yes. He probably instructed him to get his jacket as it was cool out. I could just imagine the boy running to his room, getting his jacket, and emerging with the stuffed doggy in his arms and a smile on his face. The father probably told him to leave the toy because he wouldn’t be able to ride the scooter and carry the stuffed dog. The boy probably begged the father to let him take the toy and promised to keep up. The father probably gave in knowing that the boy would struggle but allowed him to take the stuffed dog.
As I passed the father and son, it suddenly dawned on me, isn’t this just how I am with God? I am always wanting to be in control, and I am convinced that I can handle the situation or that I know best. Yet as I try to be in control of my possessions, difficult situations, or family, it throws me off balance. I can’t hold on to them and the handlebar at the same time and keep steady.
Isn’t God just like the father that I saw on the side of the road? He sits back and allows me to attempt to live my life convinced that I can handle it all, that I will stay balanced and ride smoothly on the scooter of my life. Yet God never lets me fall. Just like the father, He reaches over, grabs the handlebar of my life, and steadies me. He loves me enough to allow me to make my own mistakes but never abandons me to them.
The scripture verse captures it all. “The human heart plans the way, but the LORD directs the steps.” Giving up control to God of my possessions, situations or my family is the most difficult struggle for me. I constantly vacillate between turning over the issue or my family and friends to Him and then taking it back. I struggle with waiting for the Lord to direct my steps and instead, I make my own plan and walk forward asking God to walk alongside of me. And just like the father God tries to tell me I won’t be able to keep my life in balance if I try to be in control. Just like the son, I too am stubborn and convinced that I can do it. It isn’t until I almost fall that I let go of what I’m holding onto and let God steer as I grab the handlebar with both hands.
God is so great and loving! He waits perfectly upon me even when I don’t wait upon Him. Each day I am learning more and more to try and wait on God to direct my path in my life. The lesson I have learned in my faith journey has been patience and trust in God. I’m still a child in God’s eyes and I know without a doubt my loving Father will never let me fall. He will allow me to struggle because He knows that it is in the struggle that I learn to turn to Him and trust Him.
Today, let us recognize what is holding us back from trusting God. Let us ask God for the strength to put down what we are holding onto and give God control of our lives. And let us thank God for being our Father who is so loving and patient with us.
