Matthew 6:34... Out of Control

"Jesus said, 'So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today's troubles are enough for today." - Matthew 6:34

This is my life verse. Honestly, I'm a constant worrier. I try to latch onto tomorrow, and I try to figure out exactly how things will work out. And I fail at both, every single time.

Lately, I've been asking God to show me how to not worry, how to give Him control. And God doesn't do things like most teachers; instead of just talking about it or showing you how, he puts you in situations and forces you to learn. And lately he has been doing that like never before in my life.

One of my good friends, Ozzy, is going into the military, as I have said before. But today, I found out something. He is not leaving in September, like we had thought. He is leaving in May. Our time with him was cut back by four months, and he will probably go to Iraq, where he could be killed at any time. And there is absolutely nothing I can do to change it.

Another one of my friends, and I cannot go into details, is being pulled right and left, demons attacking on all sides, and she can't fix what's happening. She has no power to change it.

In my own life, my family is completely changing. My brothers hate each other, my grandmother is missing my grandpa and getting so afraid at night that we are over there more than at home, and my parents' marriage is in a rough place, to say the least. And every attempt I make at making things better is completely shot down. There is nothing I can do to change it.

God has been showing me that I cannot do it, and He is teaching me that worrying about it will not help anything, because I don't know what tomorrow will bring in any of these situations. In everything, I have to give it to Him, because without Him, I am powerless. He's also teaching me to be thankful for what He is doing rather than worrying about what might happen next.

Ozzy is following God's plan for his life; he is being given a chance to go like we are commanded and spread the Gospel in all nations, with our troops and possibly even the people of Iraq. And we still have three months with him, God willing. Because we can never know when this life will end. We cannot worry about tomorrow, because we do not know if tomorrow will come. God has given us today, and we need to be thankful for that and live life today at its fullest.

My friend is struggling. But she still trusts God, and she isn't pushing him away like some people do in crisis, and He is with her always. He'll never let her go, no matter what she goes through. And I know she has a couple of people she really trusts to be there for her, and God has given her that.

And look at how blessed we are! My family lives within an hour drive of every other close relative. We get to spend time together. And we were given so many years with my grandfather and we still have time to be with my grandma. And God has given my mom, my grandma, and me a chance to be a light to my non-Christian family members.

And He gave us his son, Jesus, so that in this life, we would true life that would last forever. We have His love. And I am more thankful for that than I will ever be able to express, even with eternity ahead of me.

So why should we worry? As humans, we are not promised another day on this earth, but as Christians, we are promised an eternity with our Lord and Savior. What happens today and what might happen tomorrow aren't even a speck on the timeline of forever. So why live life wondering what might happen tomorrow instead of living in today for Him, our Creator, the one who gives us the promise of forever?

And even when things feel out of control, know this: they are out of our control, not God's, and he triumphed over death and called the world into being just by speaking. His control is absolute, and He works for the good of those who love and serve him.

en teaching me this over and over, and I'm learning to let go, to give everything to Him, because He is the ONLY one who can change things. He may use me as a tool, but anything good or perfect done is done by Him alone.

Dear Heavenly Father, Lord,
Today, Lord, I've had these things on my heart and mind, and Lord, I'm giving them to you today. God, I can't do it, but you can. Father, you are the Creator, the one who put us on this earth, Lord. And you know each one of us by name. You are bigger and greater than we will ever understand, Lord, and I praise you for your creation.

Lord, today, I lift up Ozzy, lord. We've all had a hard time letting him go, Father, but I can't ask you to keep him here for us. Lord, he is carrying out your will, and I pray that the time we do have with him, Lord, will be a time where we all grow in closeness, not letting the upcoming goodbye put a strain on everything. I pray for Meghan, and Zak, and Sef, Lord, three of the people closest to him, Lord, because I know how hard it is to let go. I pray that they'll see you working in this situation, and that Oz will lean on you for always.

God, I pray for my friend. You know who she is. Everything in her life is chaos right now, Lord. She's dealing with things I could never understand. But you know her heart, and you know exactly how she feels, Lord. I pray that you'll be with her, and that she'll know that you're there, even if she can't always feel you.

I pray for my family, Lord. We're all so far apart. I pray for my grandma; she misses Papa so much, and I can understand, sort of, but I don't know how she feels exactly. I pray for my brothers. They both need you so much, God, and I don't know how to tell them about you. Jason just doesn't want to hear. I pray that you'll open their hearts to your word, Lord, even when they don't think they want to know. I pray that my mom will see what she loved about my dad, Lord, and that maybe she will change her mind.

Most of all, Lord, I pray that we'll all live to bring you honor and share your grace with all of those around us, and I pray that tomorrow will not be something we panic about, but something we wait patiently for. I pray you'll give us our needs daily, and that we won't ask for more than that. And I pray for your perfect will, and that it be done, for you know the bigger picture in life, God.

I thank you for all you have given us, Father, and I pray that we will be joyful and thankful even when things seem out of control, because they are out of our control, not yours, and you are the only one who can change everything, make something out of nothing, and you are the only one we need.

In Jesus' name I pray,
Amen.