Lately I’ve been doing a lot of thinking. As an adult, I have realized and accepted that life doesn’t always look exactly like I dreamed it would when I was a kid. And you know what? It’s totally okay.
My Bible Study is studying the book Restless by Jennie Allen (love her studies — do one if you get a chance!). The name of the book describes something I have always struggled with. Many times I find I am restless in life — yearning for more and not having enough patience to just wait. With my type A personality, I am a planner and I like to know things in advance. Hence why sometimes waiting isn’t my strong suit! Don’t get me wrong, restlessness isn’t always a bad thing, as long as it’s kept in check and it’s driving you towards a deeper relationship with God.
In this study we each choose a question each week to answer. This week in my question was “What is God asking of you?” Right away I knew the answer. It was a word that quickly popped into my head, and one I knew I couldn’t ignore. Surrender. So powerful, so easy to say, yet so incredibly difficult to do.
Like many of us at one time or another, I have undergone many unpredictable life changes in the past few years, and with these changes I find that it’s harder and harder to sometimes be palms up and surrender it to God. The plans I had are gone, and the future seems a little more uncertain. Anyone else feel this way? I know that God is in control, but these life changes have been heartbreaking and completely out of my hands to change the circumstances.
In the midst of life happening, it’s easy to get caught up in the pain and difficulties. And in turn, sometimes I feel like I have forgotten how to dream. I’ve always been a dreamer, a go getter and a big picture thinker. My dreams don’t look the same as they used to three years ago. But that doesn’t mean I can’t dream! It just means my dreams look a little different, and I have learned to fully embrace my new dreams as God takes me on an exciting journey.
In my heart I know that God knows. God knows. He has a plan, already knows what is going to happen tomorrow and has good planned for my future. Although it’s tough for me, I am going to keep working on surrendering. Giving it all to God because He commands us to “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” (Psalm 46:10, NIV)
And for me, that’s more than enough.
How do you surrender and give up control to God?
Angela
Iowa Farm Grown 
I love this post! I’ve never thought of it this way in terms of my relationship with God, but I am often in this “flux” where I’m restless, and can’t wait for the next thing. I know it’s silly – if you want the next thing too much, and are always waiting, it’s hard to be truly present – but I struggle with it nonetheless. I need to learn to let go, and know that things will happen when they need to.
I’ll check out the book. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you, Alex! So glad you enjoyed the post. I share my heart on my blog in hopes that it will help someone else, and it sounds like this time it did just that. Grateful! I completely understand the “flux” of feeling restless, and I am really working on feeling content and living palms up. I know God’s plan is so much better than mine, but it’s hard to give up the control! Definitely check out the book. I guarantee you will love it!