Circumstances

"Nothing in life is certain. Circumstances roll in and out like the ocean's tide. The unknown can sometimes seem so frightening as we ponder all the tragic possibilities that we know can and do happen to people. We catch ourselves wondering what the page of life might hold. We can't stop  or control the things that roll our way any more than we can stop the water's edge. But we can make the minute by minute choice to let our souls rest in God." ~Lysa Terkeurst in What Happens When Women Say Yes to God. (pg 66)

What circumstances are you wishing you could control right now? Do you find it difficult to let your soul rest even in the thick of a storm? Do you find peace at the water's edge or are you feeling thrashed around by the waves?

I am pretty sure we all have circumstances in our life that we wished could be different. Maybe it's wishing that a relationship would be more close knit. Maybe it's a health issue with yourself or a loved one. Maybe it's financial problems or issues with a professor/teacher at school.  Maybe you wish you were thinner or stronger. Maybe you wish you had a talent or gift in a certain area.  Maybe you wish your children would do x, y or z. Maybe it's a coworker who doesn't mind their business or a friend who cannot seem to stop gossiping. Maybe it's trying to find a job in this tough economy. Whatever it is, there are many circumstances that any one of us might wish could be different.

We can spend a lot of time wishing things would be different. We can even spend a lot of energy trying to change our circumstances. But time and energy don't always equal a change. What do you do what it doesn't change? Do you find acceptance in your circumstance? Do you find peace in your circumstance?  Why is it on paper things seem so easy? Don't we all read the beginning paragraph? "We can't stop or control the things that roll our way".  We nod and say "yep, that is true". Then as soon as we close the book we go back to worrying, fretting, wishing, praying and trying to control the situation.

Why is it so hard to find the rest at the water's edge? Why is it so hard to trust the God who created everything in this universe with our "small to Him" issues?  Even worse, why can we put our burdens down, but then it seems we pick them right back up again and maybe with a few extra ones?