what we tend to do in uncontrolled circumstances…

have you noticed that usually when you face an uncontrollable circumstance you tend to do one of two things?  these are the extremes and most of us do one or the other.

some of you when you face things that are out of your control you just redouble your efforts.  you try harder. 

you say, “i’m going to make this thing work!”  and the more your life tends to spin out of control the more controlling and compulsive you become.  when you feel like you’re threatened by, “i can’t control the situation” you start and react by trying to control everybody and everything in your life.  you become compulsive about it.  you want to control this and you want to control that.  you’re a hyper controller.  and you’re certainly not at peace because you’re trying to run the whole world out of the fear of what’s uncontrollable in your life

then others of you, you do the exact opposite.  you throw in the towel.  you give up. 

you throw your hands up and say, “forget it!  i’m a victim.  i’m going to roll over and play dead.  i’m a victim of despair.”  and you play mary martyr.  you swallow and wallow.  you swallow your anger and you wallow in self-pity. 

both of those choices, trying to control everything and everybody around you and giving in and saying, “i’m just a victim!” those are stupid foolish choices.  what you need to do is the alternative. 

what you need to do is pray the prayer of surrender.  YOUr kingdom come, YOUr will be done in my life.  YOUr will be done on earth as it is in heaven. 

why do we pray that, YOUr will be done on earth as it is in heaven?  because in heaven GOD’s will is done perfectly.  is GOD’s will done perfectly on earth?  absolutely not.  in fact most of the things that happen on earth are not GOD’s will.  GOD’s will is not always done.  that’s why we have sin.  that’s why people get hurt.  but when you pray, YOUr will be done, you’re saying, i accept your plan.

just a thought from the front porch…