"CONTROL"

     One of the glorious attributes of God is that HE is sovereign (bottom line, ultimately, HE IS in complete control) over ALL!  NOTHING happens that isn't approved, and/or sent, by HIM!  Furthermore, HE'S the same yesterday, today and forevermore!  If one were able to take away this attribute, then, HE would no longer be 'GOD!!'  Therefore, no matter how out of control things may "seem," to me, I trust that HE is somehow using all of it in HIS providential plan.  "CONTROL" is something, I've observed throughout my 54 years of life, that most people seem to desire, whether we realize it or not!  In my opinion, pride, and/or various kinds of insecurities, are often the driving force of this insatiable need to try and control, people, circumstances, well, anything and everything!  It is an understatement to say that someone trying to control me, or other people about whom I care, is one of my main "pet peeves!"  Maybe, another reason (a good motive) why a person may try to control everything around himself, is that, he truly believes he has the answer, and MUST do whatever possible to implement it?!  I don't know, I'm just typing  my thoughts as they flow from my mind, down on the subject! Ha! Honestly, I must confess that I am  not  entirely blameless in "the need to control my life" department, either!  However, my biggest problem in this area is that I seem to be attracted (probably due to things from my past) to people who are very controlling!  Therefore, I have spent a lot of time thinking about this matter of "control."  I have also, as a means of survival, had to learn how to not LET people control me, and, as a recovering "people pleaser," this has not been easy to accomplish, nor has it been a "one time fixes all," cure, but rather, over and over again, choosing to be assertive instead of being passive or aggressive, and oftentimes failing!  Ironically, at the same time,  GOD, while helping me to do this, has also often reminded me that I am not in control, but rather, HE IS!  One of the "teachers" that HE has either sent, and/or allowed, to enter my life so that I'll learn this, is chronic back PAIN from 'Degenerative Disc Disease,' caused by injuries and trauma, to it.  This pain also affects other parts of my body, and then, my spirit and soul are affected, too.  HE could have kept me from having this, but, HE didn't.  It comforts me to know that HE never allows HIS children to suffer without having PURPOSE behind the suffering, and that it's being used somehow for the good of HIS child (knowingly or unknowingly to him/her), often also for the good of other people, and ultimately, for HIS honor and glory (Romans chapter 8). So that SALVATION would be available to the entire human race, was the purpose of the pain in which HE sent Christ to suffer, before going to, and on the Cross!  If you have never, I recommend that you read John chapter 11, and Isaiah chapter 53, concerning this. HE does care, and it probably hurts HIM when one of HIS children is suffering, or struggling, and yet, with tough, unconditional love, HE lets the pain do the work in HIS child, letting it accomplish the purpose for which HE sent it.  Knowing that HE is a good, omniscient, with a multitude of other wonderful attributes, GOD, causes me to trust HIM!  If I didn't have confidence that this is true, having not been one time totally pain-free for around thirty years, I'd be hopeless, feel unloved by God, bitter, etc.!!  Presently, I am expecting, and waiting for HIS healing (this can come in countless ways) of my back, and entire being, although it may not manifest until I pass from death unto life, it SHALL happen!!  I catch myself  TRYING to control God, sometimes even with my "faith" prayers, attempting to make HIM heal me, do and/or not do, things, which is pathetic!!  I'm sure HE laughs at times, not at my pain, but, at my futile attempts to manipulate HIM, HIS plan, or HIS will!  I try to do this on behalf  of other people about whom I care, at times, also!  HE DOES answer ALL of my prayers, and even heals  sometimes, however, NOT because I demanded it, or "CONTROLLED" HIM and/or any given situation!  When I was much younger, in retrospect, I mistakenly assumed that because many things went my way, that, I was controlling them!  Anymore, I am certain that I really had very little to do with any of it!  God has revealed this to me by USING things like "dealing with chronic back pain life," and in countless other ways (Proverbs 16:9).  Having confidence that the Bible teaches, and/or backs up all that I've written above, also assists in reminding me to remain peaceful, trusting my Lord, Jesus!  I can honestly rest "in HIM," being completely confident in all of this, and in all the 'truths" found in the '1611 King James Bible.'  Whenever I am out of control, HE is in control, and when I have the urge to try and control another person, or situation, I need to remind myself that HE is able to handle it!  There IS one kind of control that 'The Lord' does wants me to have, and that is 'self control!'  HE put it inside of me when I got saved through the baptism of  'The Holy Spirit,' along with ALL of the other fruit of 'HIS Spirit' (Galatians chapter 5).  It is my responsibility to use HIS fruit by "walking in The Spirit," while living my life!  Sometimes I succeed, because HE reminds and helps me, but, I don't obey, and fail, all too often.  Thankfully, HIS GRACE is all sufficient for me!  In my experiences, whenever I've held on to something too tightly, trying to control it, I've usually lost all control of it!  So, in conclusion, may I encourage each of us to love HIM, trust HIM, study HIS Word, obey HIM, continually pray to HIM, walk in 'HIS Spirit' (especially surrendering to 'self control'), rest in HIS peace, always knowing that HE is in CONTROL!