My mom talks in details. If you meet her, she probably won’t just tell you she purchased fabric for her latest quilt. Instead, she’ll tell you why she purchased the fabric, who she was with at the store, when she did it, and how much it cost.
She might say something like, “You know Mary? She’s my neighbor who is married to the plumber and she has a schnauzer. Anyway, I went shopping with her today for two hours and I purchased some fabric from the store around the corner from Judy’s house. You remember Judy, right? Well, the fabric has a blue background with an orange pattern. I just love patterns. I make a lot of quilts using them. You should try it. Anyway, the fabric was on sale. $2.99 per yard. Great deal!”
I once heard on a radio program my mother is a “circular communicator.” She starts with a topic, talks in a circle while adding details, and then in conclusion she ties all the information together in a verbal bow.
In years past, I wished God was more like Mom, that He would give more details to answer my questions, specifically about the future and my direction. Because I didn’t feel loved by Him, I didn’t feel safe. I was certain that more knowledge would mean more control without the possibility of ruining my life. After years of frustration and reasoning and worrying too much, I finally rested in God’s love so I was able to stop demanding I know everything about His plans for me.
One afternoon, it struck me how much I’d matured in this area when I read page after page in my journals from years past. I chuckled when I read how, on numerous occasions, I thought God was doing a particular thing in my life but in turned out that He wasn’t doing that at all. I didn’t have a clue what was going on and He worked it out—without my help! Imagine that! I’m so thankful that I no longer feel the same fear-driven compulsion to know everything about my life in advance.
David knew how to let go of the details and let God deal with them. In Psalm 131:1-2, he wrote, “I do not concern myself with great matters, or things too wonderful for me. But I have stilled and quieted my soul; like a weaned child with its mother. Like a weaned child is my soul within me.”
David learned the art quieting himself when He didn’t have all the answers about the future. He chose to let the God who loved Him take the wheel.
If you’re worrying today about something that doesn’t make sense, give your heart and mind a rest and like David, choose to let God be in charge–without giving you all the details.
Additional Resources
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