Have you ever had that feeling where you just know it’s out of your hands? It’s one of those things. A job loss. The relationship ends. A medical prognosis. A child is going through something. You get the news, and in the moment, you can’t change the circumstances. You just know that it’s something you need to walk through.

In those moments, our minds like to head to overdrive. We problem solve, we reason with ourselves, we plead with God. And over and over we go through this cycle. It’s an imaginative processing and reprocessing of the situation. Hoping that we will get a different result or some answer. Hoping we’ll find the secret solution. Not realizing that we are attempting to do so in our own strength.

Walking in these moments, I’d hear people say things like, “Let it go and give it to God.” Or, “Cast your cares on Him,” And I would continue to think, “BUT HOW?!” How do I do that?! I’m telling God that I’m giving these cares fully to Him. Yet, I continue to think about these circumstances OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN. Unable to rest, enjoy every day, or sleep well.

And then I begin to ask myself, “Am I going to worship the situation and circumstances before me, OR am I going to worship The Creator who made me?” You see, continuing to mull over the situation I’m in only causes me to begin to abide in that circumstance. It’s as if I’m allowing the situation to swallow me.

You will keep him in perfect peace,
Whose mind is stayed on You,
Because he trusts in You. – Isaiah 26:3

Abiding in God is for me to give my time, attention, and adoration to the Lord. The circumstance is just that. It’s a circumstance. God defines me. God is the author and finisher of my faith. God is The One who is in control. I am the one to abide. I am the one to worship. So at the end of the day, what am I going to worship? As I worship, He does the work. He brings the answers. He brings the wisdom. He brings the breakthrough. And the glory goes to Him. I don’t get the glory. I get to be the clay in The Potters hands. And as I submit to Him, I get to be a part of His process to bring Him that glory.

I don’t get the glory. I get to be the clay in the Potter’s hands. And as I submit to Him, I get to be a part of His process to bring Him that glory. My deep-rooted sin nature is exposed. My motives are purified. My reliance on Him grows. My understanding of His love and mercy begins to grow, too. I begin to see that it really is Him working behind the scenes.

There is nothing you or I can do to earn His love. We don’t win the battle with strong will. We win because He’s fighting for us. What we can do is submit and worship. Submit to the process, and the timing, and the way He brings His answer to unfold. And we can worship by choosing to thank Him for who He is. Thank Him for all He’s done and is doing (whether we see it or not). And believe that He is faithful to His promises.

So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth;
It shall not return to Me void,
But it shall accomplish what I please,
And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it. – Isaiah 55:11

Prayer:

Father, in the name of Jesus, I thank you that you are working all things for good for those who love you and are called according to Your purposes. As your child, I fully submit every aspect of my life to you. I thank you for all that You’ve done in my life. I trust that in Your timing, You will execute Your plans in my life. I thank you for the work that You are doing in me, drawing me closer to You. I believe in Your promises and everything that is in my hands, I give over to You. Do Your will, Your way, and in Your timing. I refuse to pick this burden up again. And I thank you for your outcome. In Jesus name I pray, amen.