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Out of Control

    There will always be times in life when we will feel overwhelmed by an unpredicted turn of events. A loved one unexpectedly passes, you fall ill, a friend comes for a surprise visit, and the list goes on. In these times, I often feel completely out of control and stressed out. The unexpected doesn't come when we have free time! It comes when we are already consumed with other happenings of life. 

    This can be a work of the enemy to get us to lose our peace. He wants us to feel afraid and helpless because when we freak out, he has a foothold to do some damage in our life. But God uses these times to strengthen our faith in Him. When we are feeling out of control we have two options: give control to Satan or to Jesus. If we are not giving our lives into God's hands and trusting His plan, we are giving control to the god of this world. Who would you rather have holding your life together?

James 1:2-4 Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing. (NLT)

    The Lord sees everything happening in our lives. He will not forget or abandon you! Trust in His divine plan to get you through those days when things seem impossible. With His help, we are prepared to conquer even the things we didn't see coming. And let's face it-- most things we don't see coming! His plans are only good and it is not His will to see us be conquered by circumstances in life. All we have to do is ask Him and seek Him above all else. 

Deuteronomy 31:8 Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; he will neither fail you nor abandon you. (NLT)

Philippians 4:6-7 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. (NLT)

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil,to give you a future and a hope. (ESV)

Matthew 19:26 Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." (NIV)

Matthew 6:33 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. (NLT)

    Next time you are faced with impossible circumstances stop. Before you freak out, breathe. Ask God to come into your situation and take control. Ask for His strength and wisdom to get through it. Ask for His peace through the craziness. Do not try to take your life into your own hands and, consequently, give Satan a foothold to distract and destroy you. It is okay to be out of control as long as you're giving the reigns to Jesus. We were never meant to be the god of our own lives. He can handle anything and everything you face!

1 John 5:19 We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one. (NIV)

Philippians 3:20-21 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body. (NIV)

John 16:33 I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world. (NLT)

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