Let God Be God

Excerpt from Simple Steps to Handling Stress by Inspiration Ministries.

We all wish the battle against our worry and anxiety was an easy one to win. But in truth, so often our minds are like a vise of fear and control. And the ongoing problem that hinders us is when we tighten the screws of that vise around our life and circumstances.

It’s so important to understand this concept right now because the stress you’re feeling at the moment is directly proportional to the control you feel you can exert over any given situation. To quote a great line from the poet Kahlil Gibran, “Our anxiety does not come from thinking about the future, but from wanting to control it.”

Please read this truth carefully: No matter how strong, smart, creative, or resilient you might be, you will do a terrible job trying to be God. So if you feel like you’ve been given more than you can handle today, it may be because you’re trying to shoulder responsibilities that only God Himself is qualified to handle.

This principle is so basic, yet so deep. At the root of all stress overload is the human inclination to forget that God is on the throne of the universe. Throughout the Scriptures, we’re told to be still and know that HE is God (Psalm 46:10). We’re reminded that the government of creation is on HIS shoulders rather than ours (Isaiah 9:6-7). And we’re invited to cast our cares upon Him (1 Peter 5:7) and find rest for our souls (Matthew 11:28-30).

Perhaps this sounds like a religious platitude, but it must be much more than that. The Bible repeatedly tells us to cast our burdens on the Lord, because He cares for us (1 Peter 5:7; Psalm 55:22).

There’s NOTHING more stressful than trying to play God instead of allowing God to live His life through us. The old hymn correctly observed, “Oh, what peace we often forfeit, oh what needless pain we bear, all because we do not carry, everything to God in prayer!”

Recognize that He’s God, and you’re NOT! It’s no wonder your life is stressful if you’ve inadvertently tried to switch roles with the Almighty.

Trust God Completely

As believers, all of us want to trust God and have confidence in Him, but sometimes we let the cares of this world blindside our faith. Sure, we can recite Scriptures about trusting God and casting our cares at His feet, but when it’s all said and done, we haven’t moved an inch toward doing what those verses mean.

As we give up control over our problems and let God be God, we have to learn the lesson of complete contentment in Him. We may be desperately wanting our situation to change, but we also have to find joy in the Lord even if it doesn’t change. That can be a hard place to be.

The truth is, we grow more deeply in our intimacy with God during the difficult seasons of life than we do when everything is smooth sailing. As testers of our faith, these times help us learn to nurture our peace and confidence in Him so that He can build up our trust in His Word and Spirit. Paul says, “Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content” (Philippians 4:11).

If we take a page from Paul’s book, then we can understand what it means to be content. Here’s a man who endured beatings, stonings, imprisonment, and torture, and yet he was able to remain joyful, no matter the difficulties. Paul said it was a matter of casting his cares on the Lord and trusting in Him. Let that contentment be yours as well. Keep following the Lord, remaining faithful and obedient to Him; then regardless of your situation, you’ll have the ability to find joy and peace, completely relying on His goodness.

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Order your copy of Simple Steps to Handling Stress by Inspiration Ministries.