Five Minute Friday – CONTROL
Welcome back, dear friends! The radio silence is over, and I’m getting back on my feet after 5 weeks of international living. Our son, Joshua, is safely settled into his bachelor pad downstairs at my parents’ place in Canada. What a whirlwind of activity and emotion! He’s now the proud owner of snow boots, a down-filled jacket, and an Alberta Health Care Card.
We’re still trusting for a job for him (he’s an excellent barista if anyone knows of openings in the South Edmonton area) and acceptance into his program of choice at MacEwan University this coming fall.
Goodbyes don’t get easier, do they? You’d think that I’d be good at this by now. No, it’s still terrible to say ‘goodbye’ to people you love. But I’ll write about that more once my dreadful jet lag has worn off.
Today is FRIDAY! Whoop whoop! Every Friday, I join an inspiring group of writers to write for FIVE MINUTES on a one-word prompt. (Missed you guys.) No editing. No revising. Just WRITE.
This week, the prompt word is CONTROL. (oh great… seriously?)
// indicates the start and stop of the timer.
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// Let’s face it… there are sooo many things out of my control.
I can’t control Home Affairs or getting the appropriate visas for my family. I couldn’t control Joshua’s ability to get a longer visa and stay in the country with us.
I can’t control the admissions boards at universities to ensure that my brilliant child captures a place among their new students.
I can’t control bureaucracy and the inefficiency of different nations to communicate with each other.
I can’t control potential employers and their decision-making abilities. “My kid is awesome; why aren’t you hiring him?”
I can’t control mortality or the health of the human body. So many of our precious friends are in a death-defying battle with disease right now.
Let’s face it; I can’t even control my ability to have an enjoyable flight overseas. I did my part… I chose a reputable airline. I chose a convenient seat. But all it takes is one rude person with bad gas to ruin a perfectly good flight. (Watch this space for a proper rant about rude people in international airfare.).
What can I control?
Myself. My attitude. My heart. My reactions. My emotions.
Yes, the waves of bad attitude and negative confession come quickly and, most often, with warning… and there’s no sin in feeling things deeply.
But then what? What do I do with all that anger and raw emotion? What do I do when the melancholy presses in like a heavy cloud? //
I have realized, once again, through the course of the last month, that GOD IS MUCH BETTER AT HOLDING THE REINS OF MY LIFE.
My best efforts come to nothing; they just leave me tired and discouraged. But when we surrender control of our circumstances and situations to our Faithful Father, that’s when He surprises us with intervention.
That’s when God speaks to OTHER people on our behalf!
How?
1. Encouragement
This past month, I have received the most perfectly-timed messages from friends and family, arriving exactly when I needed to hear them most. Quite often, those messages arrived in the middle of the night when I was tossing and turning and crying out to God for comfort and help.
BING… “You’ve got mail!”
How precious! Thank you, dear friends, for being so sensitive and timely.
2. Scripture
Even more powerful than opinions or advice, are messages that include the Words of Life found in the Bible. As I was boarding the plane for the long flight home, a dear friend sent me this Scripture verse from Isaiah 8:11-14 in The Message Bible. It cut quickly through the heavy cloud and gave me the courage to hand over the Controls to my Father again.
“God spoke strongly to me, grabbed me with both hands and warned me not to go along with this people. He said: ‘Don’t be like this people, always afraid somebody is plotting against them. Don’t fear what they fear. Don’t take on their worries. If you’re going to worry, worry about The Holy. Fear God-of-the-Angel-Armies. The Holy can be either a Hiding Place or a boulder blocking your way…’”
Wow wow wow!
God truly is the Grand Master of Design, and even when He allows us or our loved ones to suffer for a while, there is still purpose in it, and He can be trusted with the CONTROLS. I believe that with all my heart (even though my mind sometimes needs to catch up)!
You see, trust simply means waiting in silent expectation… Waiting to see the hand of God at work. Waiting for agencies to act and circumstances to align. Waiting for breakthrough.
3. Provision
How beautiful it was to arrive home to hear that our eldest had received a financial miracle in Australia. Yes, we had been believing God for a miracle, but I had been so focused on getting Joshua sorted out that, quite frankly, I had forgotten to pray for her need.
Surprise!
God truly has everything in control, even the stuff we forget about! Click To Tweet
I choose again to trust Him today! Will you join me?
YOUR TURN: Use the comments below to tell us about a time when giving God the controls in your life has brought breakthrough.
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For more information on Five Minute Friday, check out Kate Motaung’s site!
But then what? What do I do with all that anger and raw emotion? What do I do when the melancholy presses in like a heavy cloud? // <<<— This struck a chord in my heart too. I am your neighbor at FMF. I felt the same words flowing thru my fingers today. We are in control of what we say and do. The stuff for others is for us to pray about and trust God for. Prayers your son finds a good job, enjoys school, and grows up to know that the King is always in control. Love, Jenn
Hi, Jenn! I’m so glad you stopped by. And thanks so much for your kind words, especially concerning Joshua. Yes, that all my kids would know that the King is always in control! Amen.
Wishing you a wonderful weekend! (heading over to read your post too 🙂
Yes, the “but then what?” I’m so glad you kept on going after time was up! This is the ultimate right balance: taking control of our own legitimate responsibilities, while looking to God for the strength, guidance, and help to do that, and rolling all the uncontrollables (as well as our very selves) unto His very capable hands.
I totally agree, Sylvia. It’s not easy to find that balance, but we desperately need it to truly live. Thankfully, when we give up our substandard control, we gain His control which is infinitely more faithful and effective!
I’m so glad you stopped by! Have a great weekend!
OH YES. I loved this – and what we CAN control…YES. I loved this so much.
So glad you are back friend! 🙂
Me too! It was a long haul, and I’ve been missing our Friday creative outlet! Heading over to read your touch of brilliance too 🙂
Have a great weekend!
Hey Shauna, it is good to have yo back and I got so excited to see you posting today 🙂 Been thinking about you a lot during December in Jan and lifting you up before the Throne of Grace, I can only imagine how hard that goodbye was and yip – God in control, mmmmmm! Totally get you! Big hugs and Luffss Aliyah
Thank you so much, my friend! The trip was actually amazing (I’ll write more as I process what God did through it all). High highs and low lows, and I’m so grateful for praying friends!
Baie, baie dankie! ❤
I can SO relate. Thanks for writing this and participating in the Five Minute Friday! I wondered if this article might encourage you. It encapsulates some of what I said about things we can/can’t control in my new book, Control Girl. No pressure to check it out; just thought you might relate! 🙂 https://www.reviveourhearts.com/true-woman/blog/growing-children-controlling-mom/
Thanks, Shannon! I so enjoyed reading your guest post today, especially the picture of the threads attached to the Father’s hands. Yes, that’s exactly how I see Him! What a powerful image ❤
I’ll definitely check out your link. Thanks so much! And I hope you’ll make FMF a regular habit… you are very welcome!
I too love the focus on what we can control… I often get swept away by things that I have real impact on but focusing on my own attitudes and emotions – great reminder!
Love this, Shauna – “God is much better at holding the reins of my life.”
So true! And so good to see you here again.
#1 at FMF this week.
https://blessed-are-the-pure-of-heart.blogspot.com/2017/01/your-dying-spouse-264-theres-still-work.html
“You see, trust simply means waiting in silent expectation… Waiting to see the hand of God at work. Waiting for agencies to act and circumstances to align. Waiting for breakthrough.” Oh, the silence can be excruciating! Oswald Chambers said, “Waiting is not sitting with folded hands doing nothing, but it is learning to do what we are told.” When we trust God is in control, we can do this. Loved reading your encouraging and insightful words, Shauna! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Nice to have you back. Sweet words and praise God for your son’s miracle! I think too that control and patience go hand in hand. I like your definition “waiting in silent expectation”. I am not very silent in my waiting. And that is where I need God to help me control while I let Him control me and things that concern me. #96 this week.
Awww, Shauna, you HAVE been on a roller coaster these past number of weeks. There is so much in life that we can’t control. I love how God met you where you were with notes from friends and family, with His word, and in the ways He provided. It’s so good for this heart to remember that God truly does have me (each of us) and holds us in the palm of His hand. He loves us. When everything seems out of control, this truth can ground me.
SO glad you’re back, friend!