5 Minute Read
Prepare Your Heart
To the best of your ability, get rid of all distractions. Take a few minutes to breathe deeply and quiet yourself in the Lord’s presence. Then, ask the Lord to speak to you in this time. Let Him know that you will listen and make whatever adjustments He will reveal to you.
Read God’s Word
A Verse for Today
Slowly and reflectively read the following verse(s) and listen to what God will say to you through His written Word. Consider writing down any insights He reveals to you.
John 6:5-6 (CSB): “So when Jesus looked up and noticed a huge crowd coming toward him, he asked Philip, ‘Where will we buy bread so that these people can eat?’ He asked this to test him, for he himself knew what he was going to do.”
Reflecting on God’s Word
Feeling out of control is one of the worst feelings a person can experience. Whether it’s a car that’s sliding on ice or an out-of-control life filled with bad things that keep knocking you down, it feels horrible! And terrifying!
It is a sobering reality that none of us has absolute control over anything. I recently read a book where the author said, “The only thing you have control over is you.” But that isn’t true. Absolute control is only an illusion.
For instance, we think we have control over our time. We think we can make plans and then act on them. But James, led by God’s Holy Spirit had something to say about that.
James 4:13-16 (CSB): “Come now, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will travel to such and such a city and spend a year there and do business and make a profit.’ Yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring—what your life will be! For you are like vapor that appears for a little while, then vanishes. Instead, you should say, ‘If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.’ But as it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil.'”
Do you get that? He said that we feel like we’re in control (demonstrate pride) and make plans without any regard for the Lord. Yet, we could die (or a thousand other things could happen) that would keep us from carrying out our plans. Then, he puts the nail in the coffin by saying such presumption is “boasting” (bragging) and it “is evil.”
Again, the biblical and life principle is that we are never fully in control of anything.
And when we learned that lesson, we have made great strides in our spiritual maturity. Why? Because the Lord values dependence upon Him. He wants us to be strong and courageous (Joshua 1:6-9), but to find that strength and courage in Him.
This principle enables us to understand what Jesus was doing in John 6:5-6. He knew that He would perform a miracle and feed 5,000 men, along with the women and children. But He wanted the disciples to be fully aware that the situation was far beyond their control.
John 6:5-6 (CSB): “So when Jesus looked up and noticed a huge crowd coming toward him, he asked Philip, ‘Where will we buy bread so that these people can eat?’ He asked this to test him, for he himself knew what he was going to do.”
He wasn’t trying to shame them or beat them down. He simply wanted them to realize the principle that Paul came to understand. Paul had some unidentified “thorn in the flesh” that he couldn’t control. He pleaded with the Lord to take it away but the Lord said, “No.” Paul gave us the reason the Lord left something so unpleasant in His life.
2 Corinthians 12:9-10 (CSB): “But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is perfected in weakness.’ Therefore, I will most gladly boast all the more about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may reside in me. So I take pleasure in weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and in difficulties, for the sake of Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
Paul came to realize the powerful principles that Jesus wants all of His followers to understand and embrace. We are not in control. He is. So, we can find meaning in the difficulties of life, knowing that they keep us mindful of our impotence and give us reason to rely upon Jesus.,
As soon as we realize that we are not in control of anything, but our God is sovereignly control over everything, and when we discover the joy of surrendering to Him and depending upon Him for even what we will eat each day (Matthew 6:11), we will have made great strides toward spiritual maturity.
Friend, I hope that you are trusting in Jesus to make you right in God’s eyes.
But are you trusting in Him for everything else in your life? Do you realize that apart from Him you can do nothing (John 15:5)? Learning that we are not in control, if it pushes us to Jesus and resting in His power, is something that only mature saints can understand is a cause of great joy and purpose in this life.
Spend Time in Prayer
- Ask God to help you understand that you are not fully in control of anything.
- Ask God to help you experience the power of Jesus in you as you rest and rely upon Him.
Going Deeper
If you want to dig a little deeper into how we can be strong when we are weak, consider reading the following GotQuestions article:
What does it mean that when I am weak, then I am strong (2 Corinthians 12:10)?
Sharing
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Matt Ellis is the pastor of First Baptist Church in Polk City, Florida (fbcpolkcity.com)
Matt’s Musings 