Sometimes it’s a good thing.

Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand

Proverbs 19:21

Out of Control. “No longer possible to manage”

Uncontrollable. “Wild, Unruly, Defiant”

These concepts have so many bad understandings. If someone is out of control in business or uncontrollable in regards to their recreation it is definitely not a good situation.

Control is an interesting term. It can mean being totally in charge. It can mean having sway behind the scenes. Control usually has a connotation of being direct, as in mastery or dominance. Influence can be somewhat like control, but generally the understanding is different. Leadership is in the same genre of words, but is not so unyielding.

So does that mean that being “Out of Control” is always bad?

No.

I had the chance to spend this past week with TeenPact Leadership Schools staffing the Kentucky state class. There were a number of things that were out of my control. While it first seemed that I needed to work my way back into a position of being in control I came to realize that my God IS in control and that His plans are much higher than my plans.

I have a number of stories that I’d love to share about how things were out of my direct control this past week, I’d like to tell you personally instead of on the blog though. So come ask! But what I will say is I realized it wasn’t my place to decide how the spiritual ministry was going to go. It also became apparent that even when the unexpected happens, things can turn out better than I thought possible. New relationships can form and be strengthened so quickly.

God was in control.

One of the phenomenal young men that I had a chance to staff with this past week was Austin Clapper. He and I were talking on Thursday night about how God gives us words to say. Austin said that while he doesn’t always think that he has the most eloquent conversation (I can relate, growing up on the farm) he knows that God provides those opportunities that we are most suited to fulfill. He lived Ephesians 2:20 this week, seeking out those good works that God had prepared in advance for him to do. Austin became a great friend of mine this week because neither of us were in control of the program.

This doesn’t mean that I didn’t feel at multiple times that I would rather have been in control.

• I wanted to be in control of appliances that didn’t work correctly.
• I wanted to be in control of the health of all our team members.
• I wanted to be in control of what I gained from the week.
• I wanted to be in control of the opportunities that I was given.

But looking back, I realize that while not everything went perfectly, not everyone stayed 100% healthy, not all my questions were answered, and most importantly I did not expect the opportunities that I was given…. that God’s plan was far, far better.

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever!

Ephesians 3:20-21

My question for you is this:

Are you holding onto control when God could do better?

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