Having written a book about control I naturally get lots of questions about it. One of the most misconceived patterns of thinking people talk about in this subject is found on the statement “God is in control”.
Many of us see God as someone who loves to control everything including our lives. This kind of thinking encourages a fatalistic mind set to grow within us. When this happens we find ourselves often stuck in one place and our lives lose all their momentum. I don’t know about you but for many years I lived this way waiting for God to bring the next thing yet it never arrived.
Lately I have been learning that this first approach is flawed. Ok there is a time to wait for God to do his part however this usually comes as we do ours. It is important to understand that though he has control of everything he doesn’t wish to control everything. The Bible is full of evidence about this. We see in Proverbs that we are to make plans and he will then direct our steps. We are told by Jesus to follow him not wait for him. When we walk and move it says the spirit will say to the left or the right or even stay quiet when is correct to go straight.
What is important to note here is that none of these passages are valid until there is momentum in our lives. We need to make plans so God has steps to direct and we can be an active part of the path. We need to get up and go if we are going to be able to follow and we are going to need to be walking if we have any chance of being able to make and move towards the left or the right. We are responsible for creating momentum in our lives as this is what surely was meant behind the statement that faith without works, not toil, leads to nothing. We need to understand that we have been invited to co-author our path and way and that Dad is a willing partner that is waiting to advice, coach, mentor, and help us as when we finally decide to take the first step within our hearts.
He has done his part first by giving us desires, gifts, abilities, geographical positioning, and resources to work with. Now is our turn as we walk and work with Him to decide, plan, and start moving in a direction that is related to the calling we have been given in our lives. Yes we will make mistakes and yes we will get it wrong along the way as this is how we learn if we remain present and not obsessed with getting the right results which are His responsibility anyways. The important thing to remember is that while we are doing all of this we will be creating momentum in our lives as we co-create a magical adventure with the one that always moves with elegance, grace, and inspiration. So get your pen out and start planning and drawing as the best architect in the universe is within you waiting and willing to either restart or finally get your journey on the road.
As you enter a new year remember this – When we obsess about the need for God to be in full control it is often really us trying to be in control by pretending to release the wheel of our lives to a God we have created and we falsely believe can be manipulated.
May it be a blessed, free, and present one for you and yours!
-pablo-
Photo by Jessica Wilson
