Control

Ever hear of the phrase 'control-freak'? For the benefit of those who have not, a control-freak is one who flaunts his authority and power and forces it on others, and more often than not, he tries to make himself seem like he has more power than he really has.


I don't claim to be an expert in psychology, but this is the mark of the insecure, those who are unsure how long their power will last, before it is swept away like the temporary bodies our souls reside in. Even I myself am guilty of trying to control my whole environment and life, to prove to myself that I am able to dictate my life and force it to flow the way I want it to.


But how many know that there is no way a mere one human could hold back the crashing tsunamis of life? Circumstances flow following unpredictable currents we cannot see. Events are usually beyond our control. Why, just two hours ago I found out that my MSN Messenger was infected with a virus, and because of me at least 3 others had their Messengers infected too. Did I ask for it? No. Did I deserve it? Even if I did, who punishes with a virus that limits itself to MSN Messenger *rolls eyes*?


But the fact of the matter is, it was beyond my control. A mere virus is only the tip of the iceberg. Many things happen which are far more damaging, and we have no say in whether they SHOULD happen or not. Still, in the midst of the raging storms of life, the winds, waves and thunder are not what we should worry about. After all, we know a person who can calm the weather by just saying, "Peace, be still."


Rather, what we should do is to seek to bring others out of the storm into that shelter we know for sure exists. The shelter that has infinite capacity and no exclusive membership. The shelter whose staff, the ministers of God, never stay inside where it is safe but go out into the storm to bring the helpless in.


- But in all things we commend ourselves as ministers of God; in much patience, in tribulation, in needs, in distresses... - 2 Corinthians 6:4


The shelter has been running for a very long time now, founded by God himself, and he has hired us to be his staff. In our job description, though, we are warned that being part of his staff is not easy. We too, would be subject to things beyond our control. In fact, the staff of the shelter run under the assumption that things will definitely NOT be under our control. Paul, one of the executive directors of the shelter, himself said that there would be 'tribulation', 'needs' and 'distress'. Paul was jailed for running the shelter. Peter, another executive director, was crucified upside-down because he was running the shelter under the orders of the resurrected founder. Still, we must perservere, because the price is great, but the rewards are so much greater no human could wrap their minds around it. Things may be out of our control, and we may never be able to bring it under control, but we must remember that God has control.

God hath not promised

Skies always blue,

Flower-strewn pathways

All our lives through;

God hath not promised

Sun without rain,

Joy without sorrow,

Peace without pain.

But God hath promised

Strength for the day,

Rest for the labour,

Light for the way,

Grace for the trials,

Help from above,

Unfailing sympathy,

Undying love.

-Annie Johnson Flint-

" But seek ye first the Kingdom of God, and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you." - Matthew 6:33

Hallelujah, and Amen!