Ecclesiastes 7:14, "When times are good, be happy; but when times are bad, consider this: God has made the one as well as the other. Therefore, no one can discover anything about their future." 1 Corinthians 10:13, "No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability..."

Think

As kids, the world seems black and white. We consider things to be good or bad, "fun" or "not fun." Yet as we get older, life isn't is simple, and we see more grey than black and white - a mixture of the great and not-so-great blended together. Right when we think we have life figured out and everything is under control - boom! A storm hits, a problem occurs and interrupts our "in a perfect world" mindset. But the world isn't perfect, therefore things are always bound to happen that are completely out of our control. Satan's lies subtly infiltrate our minds all day: "You are in charge. You can handle it." And to some extent it's true. God's given us freedom of will, but if we aren't careful, we can easily buy into his lies. We aren't always in control, but we can choose to yield to the One who is. You might be wondering, "How do I give up control to God?" Loosen your grip on the situation and surrender it to God. Trust that He always has your best interest in mind and works through all things for your benefit in the long run. Instead of trying to muscle your way through it, allow God to lead you through it. Trust and obey. He's got it!

Act

Close your fist. Imagine trying to grab water in your fisted hand. You can't hold on to any water, can you? Now open it. You will be able to hold more water when you have your hands open. When we are closed off to God and trying to white-knuckle grip everything around us, we gain nothing. Conversely, when we open ourselves up to God and trust Him with our circumstances, He will come and provide us with what we need every time.

Pray

God, help me to accept the things that I cannot control. It's so tempting to think that I should be in control of everything. When I begin to fall into that mentality, remind me that the burden of control is not for me to carry. Help me to put my trust in You and to react accordingly. Amen.