How is Your Grip?
Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”—yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.”
(James 4:13-15 ESV)
Believe it or not, but I am a control-freak. It drives me up the wall when things don’t go my way. However, over the last 9 months, God has taught my to loosen my grip on things. I came across this beautiful quote by Corri ten Boom:
“I’ve learned to hold everything loosely because it hurts when God pries my fingers from it.”
Oh, how true! It does hurt when God pries our fingers from something that we can’t (won’t) let go off. You see, for the past 3 years I have tried to visit my family in Germany. For one reason or another, my planned trip fell through.
At times I acted like a 2-year-old; stomping my feet, throwing myself on the floor before God. I could imagine God shaken his head at my behavior. I didn’t want to understand; I wanted to be in control of my trip home.
James points out that we should seek God’s will in all the things we do. It is hard for me at times. Yes, I do pray that God’s will be done, but how do I react to His “wait, not yet”. More often than not, it is not a pretty picture. I have had a hard time being patient; waiting on God’s timing.
Looking back over the past three years, my timing would have not been good (if I am honest with myself). I am glad to share with you that I will be going home in the Fall. I am giddy as a little girl before Christmas. God’s timing is perfect. Not only is the price for my ticket fabulous, but I know that my mom and baby sister really need me this year. We need to see each other face-to-face, hug and support each other.
My dear friends; we may not like to wait on God’s timing, but His timing is always perfect. Believe me. Do you have a tight grip on something?
Trust in the LORD, and do good;
dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness.
Delight yourself in the LORD,
and he will give you the desires of your heart.
(Psalm 37:3-4 ESV)
Lord of Heaven and Earth. You know how hard it is for me to loosen my grip on things. You know what is best for me and my family. Thank You for being patient with me over the past years. Lord, my I delight in You and Your faithfulness. In the precious name of Jesus ~ Amen.
Love & peace,
Iris
Wonderful prayer my friend.
Thank you so much for stopping by, Denise.
Iris, this is just what I needed to read today. I’m in the midst of a wait not yet situation and needed the reminder that His time is perfect. So happy for you.
Great post Iris and wonderful reminder to all of us OCD people that God has everything in the palm of His hand…we just have to let Him hold it. 🙂
I just love how sometimes God puts us all in the same place. I was just reading through the past four days of devotionals, and all of us seem to be in the same place. The funniest thing for me is that I was behind of reading and had not read a word that has gone up in the last week until I actually finished posting mine today. Let me just say that God definitely knew what He was doing, because I would have had a hard time submitting my thoughts if I had known that the past 3-4 days were all following the same theme. Right down to the 2 year old tantrums!
I completely understand where you are with visiting your parents. My parents are not nearly as far away, but for the past three years, we have been in the same struggle. Every time that I plan a trip to see my mother, it seems to get cancelled. This year, it was going to be three weeks with Grandma and Grandpa, and we found out this weekend that it is going to have to be cancelled again. I’ve been struggling with wanting to see my mother, controlling everything so that it works the way that *I* want it, and trying to listen to that still small voice.
Thanks again for the reminder that we are not alone in our struggles; and even more importantly, His timing really is in our best interest.