Maybe you feel like I do….all the emotions, all the thoughts, all the questions. It’s easy to feel out of control and begin to vacillate between hopefulness and hopelessness within any given hour.
This season is hard. We are not in control and we are being reminded of that.
Lately I’ve been looking to my phone for hope rather than a Sovereign God who knows what’s going on today, tomorrow, and a year from now. Our God gives permission for this kind of warfare with the promise that He will use it for good for those who love Him (Romans 8:28).
The other day I was talking to a mentor of mine and shared my heart with him. My concerns, my questions, my fears of the future of our country and our world. I was overwhelmed with being overwhelmed.
After all of my words were spoken, his calm voice came through the phone so profoundly.
“Make disciples Leigh.”
I paused in silence, nodding, as the realization hit. How simple our calling is, how complicated we make it as we grasp for any sense of control.
Depression, fear, and anxiety have been guests in our house for months now. But my friend simplified it in the most profound way – the way God does.
God did not put the global direction of the world on our shoulders to bear.
He has the whole world in His hands, and our part in all of it is pretty simple – be obedient to His commands, He’ll handle the rest.
He put the calling on our lives to do the following things, and these things should be our top three things on our to do list on any given day in 2020.
1. Love Him with all of our hearts. (Matt 22:37)
How do I love God with all of my heart, soul, and mind today?
2. Love our neighbors as ourselves (Matt 22:39)
How do I love my neighbor as much as I love myself? How do I meet their needs like I would
want someone to meet mine, even if we disagree?
3. Make disciples of all nations. (Matt 28:19)
How can I be a light to someone today? How can I encourage someone today through
God’s word?
When we make the decision to stay committed to these three things, we give up our attempt to control our circumstances and stay focused on Him, allowing Him to do the work through us.
"Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful." Colossians 3:15
We can exhaust ourselves trying to control all of this, but it’s a hamster wheel – because God holds the entire galaxy in His hands. Therefore, God's word calls us to let the peace of a fragrant relationship with Christ to rule in our hearts.
Maybe this season is to guide us to remember the magnitude of His power and His sovereignty.
Ultimately, as believers and followers of Jesus, we give Him the reigns, we stay rooted (John 15), and allow Him to do the work through us. But that requires us to give up control, and that’s the warfare we face every day.