My mom over at Treasure to Treasure is doing and online version of her Woman’s Bible study. I decided to join in to. We are reading “When I Lay my Isaac Down: Unshakable Faith in Unthinkable Circumstances.” this week completing chapter 2.
One of the first things talked about in this book is giving up control to God. Well, I have a control issue. But not with the big things, those are easy to give up to God because there is literally nothing I can do about them. Cancer? I cant’ fix it, nope. But those everyday trying to make life perfect for the one who has cancer…..umm guilty. I realize that I’m not going to be able to fix the big issues so I try so hard to make everything else perfect I just work myself into a frenzy.
I’m doing this today too its not just a cancer thing. I noticed it the other day. I want so badly for Mac to have the perfect marriage he didn’t have the 1st time, that I’m making myself crazy to be the perfect wife. I’m putting my expectations on Mac. When we were talking about this the other day,I was listing all the things that I wanted to do, or do better, he just looked at me baffled. They weren’t his expectations at all. I do the same thing with God, as Carol said in chapter 2 (I’m reading on my iPad I have no idea what page)
“When God says, “Trust me with the impossible,” we have an automatic impulse to use our human brain to figure out how God would do the job if He were in our position.”
Umm, sound familiar? I’m sure I’m not the only one with this….issue. So this was revelation number 1: By trying to control my world I’m limiting God.
Revelation number 2 is pretty simple, it all hinges on one word ‘we’ I’m not sure I’ve ever noticed this before. Check it out, most of us know the story of Abraham and Isaac. God told Abraham to take his dear son Isaac and sacrifice him as a burnt offering. As they approached the mountain read what Abraham tells his servants
5 He said to his servants, “Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you.” (NIV Version, my bold empasis)
Did you ever catch that before? Abraham was willing to take Isaac to the mountain because he was certian that ‘we’ both of them would return. What faith!
Wow, just wow. I’ve got a lot to think about. Giving up control, faith to do whatever God leads me to do, such a faith to move mountains.
Thanks for sharing this. I read that book while I was going through my chaotic year back in 2008 (as well as the sequel to the book). I got a lot out of it.
It was great to see your post this morning: i have found myself coming to terms with some issues I have been struggling with myself (which I will probably post about this morning).
Our pastor and I were visiting this week about failed marriages of Christians. We agreed that the attitude you wrote, “I was listing all the things that I wanted to do, or do better….” would save most of these marriages. The opposite approach, “I was listing all the things that I want you to do for me,” does not solve problems in a marriage. I Corinthians 13:5 says love “seeketh not her own” or “does not demand its own way.” Thanks for sharing.
Wow, I had NEVER noticed the “we” either … gosh … now that makes me look at Abraham in a whole new light. 🙂