Life is about control. Specifically, who is in control. It starts at birth. Babies naturally want to be fed, dry and know comfort. When one of these conditions is not met, who is in control becomes an issue. Later on there is a toy that is appealing, someone’s attention that is desired, and yes, feelings of hunger still matter. Teenagers want control of their time, of how they are perceived, and the lives of those they may be attracted to. Adults want control of outcomes: things like income, relationships, personal appearance, political elections. And as age moves on the focus shifts to more immediate issues — how much longer will I live. In the end, it comes full circle; once again control comes down to being fed, being dry and wanting comfort.
Humans labor mightily for control. Some will continue to fight to be in control till their last breath. For others, once that battle appears to be lost despair, depression, disillusionment and discouragement settle in. And then there are those in the middle — fighting for control and feeling it slip away.
The human quest for control will end in tyranny or depression. The simple truth is that humans were not designed to be in control. History painfully records this truth.
Control is a God thing!
Isaiah reminds you:
Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
Has it not been told you from the beginning?
Have you not understood since the earth was founded?
He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth…
The prophet states the foundation of all reality – God is in control! Anxiety, depression, abuse, obsession, domination, political squabbles, family arguments, fear of death — these all flow from one source, wanting to do God’s job for him.
Peace and contentment flow from understanding and loving this one truth. Here are two questions you can ask yourself and your children:
Who is in control? God.
Who is not in control? Me.
Those who win elections are not in control.Those who trouble you are not in control. You are not in control! The Lord of the Universe has an exclusive claim on the issue of control.
Isaiah goes on to promise you that God is worthy of your trust and allegiance:
Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
but those who hope in the Lord
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.
When I am tired and exhausted, seemingly at my end, a soaring eagle may seem like a taunting dream. But praise God, I am not in control, he is. He alone can deliver on what he promises.