Did I Say You Could Grow Here?
Isaiah 41:4 “Who controlled the lives of everyone from the beginning? I, the Lord, am the one. I was here at the beginning, and I will be here when all things are finished.” ERV
While hiking last summer, I stopped to admire a beautiful hillside covered in the most glorious array of white, lacy flowers. As I beheld their beauty, my husband chuckled and said, “I’m pretty sure that’s the weed you’ve been pulling from our flower beds.” I was totally flabbergasted! Nothing in my flower bed looked this beautiful. I had absolutely no clue that the small and insignificant weeds I forbid to grow in my yard would eventually have turned into this beautiful bridal veil display. Instead, I had a flower bed filled with brown plants that cost good money and were on their last leg, even after my constant coddling.
Reflecting on the beauty of the hillside, it dawned on me why I had pulled those weeds. You see, the flowers I had purchased were chosen by me, planted by me, watered by me, and pruned by me. Not so, that weed. How dare it try to grow in my yard, on my watch, and without my permission! And so, I had every right to pluck it out of the ground!
Now, I’ve told myself that it isn’t my fault that I’m a control freak. All my life, I have been in the director’s chair. You see, I’ve been a mother, a grandmother, an older sister, and teacher, as well as overseer of a guinea pig, gold fish, hamster, turtle, cat, and dog. So, as director of my stage, I hate it when I plan my day and nobody follows my script!
But, God’s word reminds me that He alone is THE ONE in control. And if there is only ONE in control, I need to get out of the director’s chair. God has been in control of the lives of every person on this planet from the beginning of time. Just think about who that includes. He was in control over Adam and Eve and gave them rule over his creation. He was in control when Pharaoh and the Egyptians endured the plagues. It was God who orchestrated the mass exodus of the Israelites. He was in control when Queen Esther and the nation of God’s people were spared. He controlled the earth that shook and opened the prison doors for Paul. And He was in control when Paul remained in prison and led the guard to the Good News of Christ. These stories go on and on. But, bottom line is: GOD HAS ALWAYS BEEN IN CONTROL!
When we step back and allow our Heavenly Father to guide us and be in control of our lives, we can bloom into the beauty that He desires us to be. Our Heavenly Father wants to take the pressure off us and lovingly direct our path.
Father God, may we ever delight in the fact that you have been in control from the beginning and will be till the end of time.
Blessings,
Rita