Home Tools for your Journey April 23

Wednesday, April 23

Keep alert, stand firm in your faith, be courageous, be strong.
—1 Corinthians 16:13

Control has become a watchword in our culture. Most of us have some idea about our own control needs, and we can spot the control needs of others without the slightest hesitancy. We want to be in control of our own lives (and sometimes the lives of of others!), and we know what it is like to feel out of control of what is happening.

Much of our conversation and exchange with life revolves around trying to gain control where we have none, and avoid the control of those who insist on imposing it on us. It becomes a wearying game, because of the energy it requires. One of the ways we can step out of the game is simply to medicate ourselves with television, the Internet, shopping, eating, and other such indulgences. Essentially, we go to sleep, in order to give ourselves a break.

Imagine waking up to your life and your world with the passion of faith and courage and strength. Imagine seeing your mind, body, and soul being fattened rather than flattened because of your trust in a God who is greater than any difficulty in life, because of your courage that proclaims that the Holy One is ever-present, because of your strength that is grounded in the might of heaven. It is not so hard to have that trust, that courage, that strength.

It only requires that we stop medicating ourselves and awaken to the reality that we no longer need to be a player in the game. We are surrounded on all sides by the protective presence of the Creator. We are not in control— – neither is anyone else.

It is the Holy One alone.

O God, let me relax and let go of the illusion of control, so that you may fill me with the faith, courage, and strength that is the great gift of your love.

The Signposts for April are written by Renée Miller and originally appeared on explorefaith.org in May 2004.