Letting Go of the Controls

Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails, and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior. The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer and enables me to go on the heights. Habakkuk 3:17-19

These verses spoke to me this morning. Habakkuk is not a book that is often referenced, but what a great example of faith. God told Habakkuk what was going to come with the Babylonians invading Israel, and in response, he wrestled with God over the seeming contradiction – that a holy God could use such a seemingly unholy means to an end.

Don’t we do that! Don’t we find ourselves wresting with God over the way we think life should go? I know I do.

Yesterday was a tough day. A lot of things were up in the air; and I confess, I was full of fear. I have this pretty bad habit of thinking that my way is the best way. One of these times I will learn that the more I try to make my way happen, the more it twists up the path to where God is leading me.

Time and time again I have been reminded to let go. Let God handle it. He has never let me down, and He won’t start now. Every path that I have taken in my life has led me to exactly where I am now. Every painful twist has come not from God, but from my own doing. My fear hinders my faith.

In the first two chapters, Habakkuk wrestled with God because he was perplexed by God’s path, but in reading chapter 3 we find a beautiful confession of faith culminating with the verses above.

Throughout Scripture we find many men and women who struggle with faith; yet find great peace when, through faith they let go of the controls.

Lord that I will learn to do this before twisting myself up in pain.

Fun fact. A complete commentary on the first two chapters of Habakkuk was found among the Dead Sea Scrolls.

Please follow and like us: