July 25, 2011

Who's in Control?
Theme of the week: How Big Is Your God?
Monday, July 25, 2011

Key Bible Verses: Don't put your life in the hands of experts who know nothing of life, of salvation life …. Instead, get help from the God of Jacob, put your hope in God and know real blessing! He always does what he says. (Psalm 146:3-6, The message)

Most of us like to be in control, some so much that we have a name for them: control freaks. But all of us like to control things to a certain extent: our finances, our relationships, our tempers, our appetites. Control is good, but sometimes life is like [a] Boeing 747 in a freefall toward the ocean. You walk into your office one day and discover your job has been eliminated. You never saw it coming, and even if you did, you had no control over it. Or you get one of those frantic phone calls from your wife. There's been an accident. Talk about feeling out of control.

I would love to tell you that as a follower of Christ you will never have any of those out of control situations, but if I did, I would be lying. The Bible says that the rain falls on the just and the unjust, meaning life happens. To everyone. But the hope I can give you is this: Even when things seem to be spinning out of control, God is still in control. Nothing unexpected happens with God. Whatever out of control moment you are going through, God has chosen you to experience it, and he has a plan for you to get through it.

—Greg Surratt in What Is God Really Like?

http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?item_no=WW328339&p=1006330

My Response: What do I usually do when life feels out of control? Why do I react this way? What reasons do I have for turning to God during those times I feel helpless?