I often suffer from the illusion of control. Do you? For example I like to have my teenage sons near me...somehow there is a sense that if I am close they will be safe, no harm can come to them, or I can at the very least head off any problems. And as the saying goes, "How's that working for ya?"
Let's see...I fell down a flight of stairs with two sons in my arms! Obviously my presence had not stopped harm and may have caused it!
Let's see...son lights firework and it flashes over burning his hands while I sat the computer oblivious to what he was doing...fireworks in the dead of winter, a bizzard even, not expected; and my presence did NOTHING to prevent it.
There are so many others:
My son ramped his bike off a ramp and crashed fracturing his skull, giving him a concussion...I was there.
My son fell through the ceiling...I was there.
My son broke his arm...I was there.
My son stepped on a nail that went through his foot...I was there.
My son broke a finger...my son broke his foot...there...there!
My son snapped off his ankle...OH WAIT..I was NOT there. Hubby was though.
My presence obviously does not guarantee their safety. I cannot protect my sons. I will be diligent and faithful and prudent. I will not throw them in front of a speeding train and let God keep them, but I am forever fighting this illusion that I have control. Only God is sovereign; and He protects my children.
Knowledge works the same way for me. If I KNOW where my sons are I feel much better than if I do not. I think parents should know where their children are-don't get me wrong- but knowledge in and of itself has no protective value. Yet, there is this sense within me that "all is okay " when I know, and "all is at risk" when I do not.
My son experienced this himself with a loved one and expressed it to me perfectly saying, "I do not know what will happen when I am not there." Yes. Both summed up-a fear bad things will happen if you are not there and a discomfort over the lack of knowledge as to what is going on.
I smiled at him. I told him it is all an illusion of control. I told him that he's seen me suffer from it. It has driven him crazy on more than one occasion. He smiled knowingly. I laughed "It isn't much fun is it?" I hope that this realization on his part might create some understanding between us. But then I said to him AND to me:
"We must trust our loved ones to God. He alone protects them. Parents and children-husbands and wives-boyfriends and girlfriends. The fact is we cannot always be with them. The fact is bad things sometimes happen EVEN when we ARE. We must be prudent and faithful, but leave them in the hands of an all knowing and all loving God who loves them more than we do."
Do you ever suffer from the illusion of control? If so...you are not alone! I am finding that having tenagers is the hard knocks school for dispelling any notion that I have ANY control! LOL! If I do not have any control...at least I know the One who does. And I can trust Him. You can too!
Let's see...I fell down a flight of stairs with two sons in my arms! Obviously my presence had not stopped harm and may have caused it!
Let's see...son lights firework and it flashes over burning his hands while I sat the computer oblivious to what he was doing...fireworks in the dead of winter, a bizzard even, not expected; and my presence did NOTHING to prevent it.
There are so many others:
My son ramped his bike off a ramp and crashed fracturing his skull, giving him a concussion...I was there.
My son fell through the ceiling...I was there.
My son broke his arm...I was there.
My son stepped on a nail that went through his foot...I was there.
My son broke a finger...my son broke his foot...there...there!
My son snapped off his ankle...OH WAIT..I was NOT there. Hubby was though.
My presence obviously does not guarantee their safety. I cannot protect my sons. I will be diligent and faithful and prudent. I will not throw them in front of a speeding train and let God keep them, but I am forever fighting this illusion that I have control. Only God is sovereign; and He protects my children.
Knowledge works the same way for me. If I KNOW where my sons are I feel much better than if I do not. I think parents should know where their children are-don't get me wrong- but knowledge in and of itself has no protective value. Yet, there is this sense within me that "all is okay " when I know, and "all is at risk" when I do not.
My son experienced this himself with a loved one and expressed it to me perfectly saying, "I do not know what will happen when I am not there." Yes. Both summed up-a fear bad things will happen if you are not there and a discomfort over the lack of knowledge as to what is going on.
I smiled at him. I told him it is all an illusion of control. I told him that he's seen me suffer from it. It has driven him crazy on more than one occasion. He smiled knowingly. I laughed "It isn't much fun is it?" I hope that this realization on his part might create some understanding between us. But then I said to him AND to me:
"We must trust our loved ones to God. He alone protects them. Parents and children-husbands and wives-boyfriends and girlfriends. The fact is we cannot always be with them. The fact is bad things sometimes happen EVEN when we ARE. We must be prudent and faithful, but leave them in the hands of an all knowing and all loving God who loves them more than we do."
Do you ever suffer from the illusion of control? If so...you are not alone! I am finding that having tenagers is the hard knocks school for dispelling any notion that I have ANY control! LOL! If I do not have any control...at least I know the One who does. And I can trust Him. You can too!
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9 comments:
Awww so true. And this is something I fight everyday~~control.
I know that "fear" all too well and sometimes it has even paralyzed me. One thing that comforts me is that I know that when my daughter is out of my sight, she is never out of His. He has more resources available (ie. angels, Wisdom, power) than I will ever have. Who better to protect our children then Adonai.
Amen girl...He is in control. And I am so glad He is...because if I was...what a mess there would be.
I have learned to trust Him with my family and those I love. And no, it was not always that way. I remember many a day and night lost in fear of what would happen...or what could happen.
Knowing that nothing can touch those that belong to Him unless He allows it.....what relief that brought. I still pray for their protection. Thanking Him that He is in control. I have come a long way baby.....and it has been for the best. But...perfection has not yet arrived....still more to learn.
But this is a much lighter walk....who really wants to carry that burden. Satan adds to it daily if I let him.
Again...good thoughts...and great truths to meditate on.
It is not us who have control, but God, the creator, the one and only, who works all things according to His good and perfect will.
Oh, Sister. I knew this post was for me when all I could see was the title!
Yes. It IS an illusion, isn't it???
So glad the One who knows what to do is the One who is in control!
Yup...learning to trust God...plain and simple...just Him.
Amen dear sis, amen.
Glad you aren't pitching them in front of the train, dear one!! I had to snicker at that.
Oh that control illusion...heck, I don't even have control over what happens to me!! But I like to pretend. Especially with the boys.
I think that is one thing that defines Christians, though. When they reach the conclusion they are not in control, the option of WHO IS, is very comforting. It is sad to imagine someone reaching that conclusion, but not having GOD to fall on.
I have a few friends who fall in that category. Sigh...I need to pray more...
I've been walking this one too...
Hope all is well. Much love.
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