…..God is still in control!
I had done all my research, carefully planned, written list upon list, strategically shopped, taken advantage of every outlet, and spend hours of hard work with my hands to accomplish this. I had done everything in my control, yet it still wasn’t coming together.
That’s how I felt in preparing for my first big fundraiser in my World Race journey. It was to be an International Dinner featuring dishes from some of the various countries on my route, and seeing as it pertained precisely to the cause at hand, I was rather passionate and enthusiastic about this event! I had invested the time which in turn had build up an interest and excitement for the journey to come, but why weren’t others feeling the same?
Two weeks into our preparations and we hadn’t gained any response, and that’s when the doubts began to set in. What if this didn’t work out? What if this whole event bombed affirming this journey was doomed from the start? Why did people around me have all these other things they were interested in, but this thing that was so important to me wasn’t important to them?
Do you know what happens when you allow questions like that last one to enter your mind? Pretty soon those doubts are transforming into hatred and bitterness. Before long it’s possible to find yourself loathing the very people God placed in your life to walk with you. That is exactly how Satan works to bring division and destruction to relationships. Sometimes it begins with “innocent questions” but they can take root quickly if we don’t “take every thought captive” (2 Corinthians 10:5).
Once God revealed to me the potential destruction that could grow from dwelling on these fears and doubts too long, it was a daily (and sometimes hourly) commitment to place my trust in Him. I had worked for it and done everything that was in my power, but the things that were beyond my control, like generating interest and bringing the right people to this event, I was going to have to trust in Him.
See, from the beginning, God had a plan, and being the faithful wonderful Father that He is, He revealed His masterplan. The event did happen, and it turned out to be such a meaningful night! God gave the introvert in me enough confidence to stretch outside myself and be social and open with the people who gathered with me. The sheer number of people was not the amount my human plan would have aimed for, but I 100% believe the right people were there. Along with me, they shared their dreams, hopes, and expectations, and it made me realize how completely blessed I am to have these people walking this journey along with me.
When things are out of our control, and we’ve done all we can and still things aren’t coming together, we have two options: Give in to the fear and doubts that settle into our mind or, as often as it takes, commit this thing back into God’s hands. Once God showed me this truth, I had to lay it down, which gave Him the opportunity to be the Almighty God that He is. In the whole process, I got a glimpse at His massive Father heart. I can’t wait to keep walking this journey with Him and these beautiful people He’s given me to walk beside, and I’m looking forward to how He wants to reveal His heart next!
