Discover how placing your trust in God not only transforms your aspirations but also opens doors to a more fulfilling and purpose-driven life.
Letting Go of Control: How Trusting God Rewrites Our Life Goals
I have a secret that lives underneath my couch. There I said it! Not many people know about it. And, quite frankly, this little secret stays hidden for many months of the year. It only gets pulled out on the coldest and wettest of days, when our family is stuck indoors.
What is it you may ask? It is a 3×4 foot piece of sheetrock with duct tape on the edges. When my daughter was in pre-school she completed a Mother’s Day survey. Her teacher asked a variety of questions about us. She followed up by writing her answers down on a coloring page and my daughter then got the opportunity to color it in. One of those questions still sticks with me to this day. “What is your favorite thing to do with mommy?” Her answer was; “Doing puzzles from under the couch.”
At four years old, Emily not only loved puzzles, but she was really good at it. We didn’t just put together 25 pieces or 100 pieces of oddly shaped cardboard cutouts. No, she loved the challenge of the tiniest pieces that went along with a 500-piece puzzle. We use this old beat-up piece of sheetrock with duct tape on the edges to house our incomplete puzzle. It easily slides underneath the couch and no one but us knows it is there.
To my daughter, a jigsaw puzzle is hours of focused effort… and somehow she finds it to be a fun pastime. To me, a jigsaw puzzle is nothing but 500 tiny problems that need to be solved. Every piece needs to find its connecting friends and its home in the grand picture.
I guess one of the benefits of doing a puzzle is the satisfying feeling of having each of the problems solved, forming a picture that appears exactly as it does on the box the pieces came in.
God Over Goals
That is how I often look at life. Each day represents its own set of problems that need to be solved. But I feel a bit lost. Every January, I like to re-clarify and set new goals. I’m not a fan of New Year’s resolutions and don’t set them, but I am a huge fan of plans and strategies!
Last year, God spoke directly to my heart, saying, “Walk faithfully with me every day”.
So, GASP! I listened and pitched my yearly goals. It wasn’t easy at first, but I did it. The freedom I felt from not competing with “me-driven” goals was AMAZING!! Here I am again, wondering (okay, worrying) what I should do this year.
If you are stuck trying to compete with creating goals know this: God doesn’t make it up as He goes. I am preaching to myself, when I say, “Handing things over to Christ, may seem hard at first, but His goals will ALWAYS prevail in your life.” So if you still feel stuck, do an Old Testament concept: Inquire of the Lord.
Finding Clarity Through Prayer
That’s what Daniel did. He found himself in a state of crisis. King Nebuchadnezzar was furious. No one could explain or interpret a dream that troubled him. He sought out help from his royal magicians, enchanters, sorcerers, and astrologers. Their response to the king was; “There is no one on earth who can do what the King asks!” Daniel 2:10.
The king then ordered Arioch, the commander of the king’s guard, to put to death the wise men of Babylon. This not only included Daniel, but his friends as well, Hananniah, Mishael, and Azariah. Instead of working on convincing the king directly or coming up with a new way to decipher his dream—or even considering an escape—Daniel called upon his friends to pray for mercy together with him. And together they sought the Lord.
As they slept, Daniel received a vision from God. The king’s dream was no longer a mystery. With this newly profound revelation, Daniel praised the Lord for His great wisdom and power; thanking Him for an answer to their request.
God’s Wisdom Over Worry – Trusting God
It can be much easier to allow our thoughts and ways to consume our decision-making ability. When we turn off the light, what happens? It gets dark. The same thing happens when we rely on ourselves instead of God. We push God’s light, power, and wisdom off to the side, allowing worry and anxiety to control our circumstances. We don’t make Godly decisions when we are consumed by our emotions.
Daniel understood that prayer is more effective than panic. While panic drives us deeper into actions dictated by anxiety and concern, prayer grounds us in truth. God knows the plans He has set before us. Like a good father, He wants the very best for us.
Remember, the Author of your story already knows the answer. Don’t let the edges of your puzzle piece hold you back.
Here is the lesson I am leaning into this year. You don’t need what you think you need. The less you have going for you, the more God can surprise you.
Let’s Pray Together
Dear Heavenly Father,
We thank you for being the creator and author of our lives. Help us to trust in your perfect plan and unwavering love, knowing that you are in control of every situation in our lives. When our mind starts to race, remind us of your faithfulness and strength. We love you, Lord, and are thankful for your faithfulness, even when we struggle.
In this, we ask in your precious name, Jesus. Amen!
Read More on Jen Schreiner
- Letting Go of Control: How Trusting God Rewrites Our Life Goals
- Embracing Uncertainty – How to Deepen Our Relationship with God
- How to Move Forward When You Feel Stuck
- Recognizing Our True Enemy: A Call to Focus on Faith
- The Power of Godly Friendships – 5 Key Qualities
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