I am not in control.

I am currently on a train to York. When I arrive, which hasn't happened yet, I will be over three hours late. My train broke, I was put on a coach with no air conditioning, was travel sick and missed a connection.

I am not in control.

Whilst on my nightmare journey I had a text from a mate who was gutted because his mate Jim, who came to Student Alpha on week one, can't come on week two because of a party and heavy work load. We had prayed together that Jim would be there as he had some great God chats on the first week. My friend had to surrender that frustration to God.

I am not in control and neither is my mate.

The truth is none of us are in control. We are pretty good at shaping our environments so that we feel like we are, but we are not. The sun rises and sets without our permission. People die without warning. Great blessings land in our lap without any prior notice. And while this can irritate us, like me on the coach, there is immense solace in the truth that our God is in control. He is never surprised. Never without an alternative route. Never out of control.

God says to Job, “Tell me if you know all this. What is the way to the abode of light? And where does the darkness reside? Can you take them to their places? Do you know the paths of their dwellings? Surely you know for you were already born! You have lived so many years!” (Job 38:18-21)

Through the moving and sometimes comedic schooling that God gives Job, I am urged to remember that God is in control. He knows everything that is winding me up. He knows when I will get home and when Jim will return to Student Alpha. 

What is it in your life that gets you wound up? What do you need to let go of? Where can you say “God. You are in control. I’m going to sit back and trust you.”