Recently, we decided to house and act as a “summer camp” experience for an inner city child through “Fresh Air Fund”. Plans were set, and I had spoken to this child’s mother several times. Then suddenly, the mother “pulled” her daughter’s application and told the administrators at Fresh Air that her daughter was no longer going to participate. Upon getting the news our family was disappointed, especially my daughter who was excited to make a new friend.
As I wondered about why they cancelled I was immediately relieved that I no longer believed the lie that everything that doesn’t work out the way I hoped is my fault or that I had to “figure out” why they made this choice!
Do you blame yourself when things don’t work out the way you planned?
I can admit that there would’ve been a time in my life where I would have recounted verbatim every word I had spoken to the mother. I would have lost sleep wondering what I could have and should have done differently; blaming myself for a result, that in reality, I have NO control over! I would have requested that the administrator “figure out” why they cancelled and report back to me so I would know or maybe I could “fix” it (oh don’t go there unless God calls you to it!) instead of resting in God’s plan.
When we try to “figure things out” it can lead to many unwanted problems, drama, upsets and heavy burdens. God tells us in Matthew 11:30 that His burden is light
“For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”- this is true when we trust God.
When we choose to trust God we will find rest.
Yes, my soul, finds rest in God; my hope comes from him. Psalm 62:5
I now pray and believe that when I say or do something that genuinely caused hurt feelings or a change in plans that God will make it known to me and will also make known to me what I should do about it. In the meantime, we must trust God and move on.
It is so freeing to realize that most of the reasons people use to make decisions has nothing at all to do with us, but everything to do with them. We must stop trying to “figure it out,” and start trusting God in the details of our lives.
Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable His judgments, and His paths beyond tracing out!
Romans 11:33
Yesterday, I received a call that a new girl has been matched with our family through Fresh Air Fund! We are trusting that she is the exact child that God wants in our home.
Are you tempted to try to “figure it out” or do you rest in God’s plan?
Written by Jamie Shaver