Thankful Trusting

It is easy to become consumed with worry and fear, especially when those most precious to us are struggling.

We want to fix everything and keep everyone happy, healthy, and safe, but we often have little control.

We want everything to be okay, and then we can be okay.

We cry out in our desperation and pray for help.

Our prayers to God are usually fear-based and directive as we list the problems and how God should step in and make things better.

We vacillate between hope, trust, acceptance, denial, paranoia, worse-case scenarios, and full-on dread.

Most of our prayers usually sound something like,

"Hey God, look at all this nonsense the devil is doing. Can you make him stop? Can you step in, work your magic, and make all this better, like asap?"

We focus on the problems instead of God.

Perhaps our prayers should be,

"God, show us where you are and what you are doing. Help us to see you and not try to be you."

Whoa. I had to read that last part again.

Are we trying to be like God as we micromanage how we think things should go?

Do we jump in and intervene with God's master plan of rescue and redemption, only to find ourselves nearly drowning in the process?

No wonder why we are so overwhelmed and exhausted.

God is with us, and He is with them.

God is doing something, even if we can't see it.

God is good - all the time.

God is God.

And we are not.

What a relief.

I want to say that this awareness assures us that God will save everyone, take care of everything, and all will be perfect, just as we have imagined.

But we know it doesn't work that way.

I don't know why things happen as they do, but I am thankful for God's goodness and His unconditional and never-ending love.

I trust that God is guarding our lives and working all things out for our good, even if that good doesn't always feel good enough.

I can trust in Him and remember who He is as I cling to his love when faced with situations I am desperate to fix.

It's a work in progress to be thankful and calm as we step aside and trust.

One step back at a time, ironically.

Thank You, God, for this beautiful life you have given us.

Philippians 4:4-7

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Exodus 14:14

The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.

Psalm 91:2

I will say of the Lord, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust."