But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body. Philippians 3:20-21
Julie: Are you wearing clean underwear?
Mark: What? Really?
Julie: Are you?
Mark: Just trying to pull my life together.
Julie: I know. Some days my only source of sanity comes in knowing that I have clean undies on. I guess it’s the only thing I can control. Everything else I shove off to Jesus. I might appear looney tunes because I literally talk to him out loud as if he is there. And not in “mushy prayerful” conversation. More like, “I can’t deal with this crap so you’re just gonna have to take it and figure it out yourself. Let me know when I should pay attention to it because I’m done.”
Mark: That’s where I am.
Julie: Clean undies?
Mark: They are clean . . . for now!
Julie: Okay then!
This is an actual conversation I had recently with a dear friend and thankfully, not forgotten. It was an incredible reminder of my need to let go and let God. It is terribly easy for me to sulk, think, craft, construct, excuse and attempt to control my circumstances and ultimately, my life.
Julie’s point was well taken. Clean undies are my job, God certainly has a sense of humor. He left that decision to me! Luckily I have the smarts enough to make it so. But little have I ever realized the implication of assuming control of my life. God wants nothing more than to “work all things together for His good.”
Control is a crazy thing — something we want desperately. Because when we have it we feel safe, secure, ordered, in charge, peaceful, organized, mindful — but these are all false senses. It is only through Christ, who is all, gives all and controls all. It requires a true surrender and demands a level of trust that comes only through the grace and love found on the cross. It begins in the mind, captures the heart and together, through Christ, brings everything under His control.
We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. II Corinthians 10:5