The King's Invitation

how to break a man

kingsinvitation | February 18, 2009 09:03

I was a control freak. Whatever the task, I couldn’t let anyone else to do it – who could do it better then me?

Now don’t get me wrong, I was a believer. I was loving God, and serving Him, and everything was right with the world. Until we found out our newborn son had multiple heart defects. A week into his little life, my wife and I found ourselves hundreds of miles from home in a place we’d never been, while our baby boy was about to be taken in for what would be the first of several operations. The surgeon actually told us to take pictures of him, because at best, there was only a 50% chance he would survive the surgery.

I will never forget standing next to his bed, while they prepared to take him away. I could barely see his little body for the various tubes and monitor lines. He weighed only 5 pounds, and was about to have open-heart surgery. Open-heart surgery! And I was struggling to understand why this was happening to us. We were doing all the right things. We were attending church services every time the doors opened. We were tithing. We were praying. We were working in the kingdom. Why was this happening to him? Why was this happening to us?

As I looked at my son, I just cried. I wanted so badly to take charge and fix everything. Then something happened. It was as though I had no fight left. I realized there was absolutely NOTHING I could do for my son. I had NO CONTROL; I couldn’t help him at all. That’s when something inside of me just broke. Devastated, I leaned over onto his hospital bed and confessed to God, “I am helpless.” I begged God to take control of the situation, to have mercy on my son. And I put the outcome in His hands.

Despite the odds given us by the earthly physician, the operation was successful. Our heavenly physician saw us through. And He is still seeing us through. Not delivered FROM but THROUGH. But you know what I finally realized? I didn’t give control over to God; He was in control all along! Always has been! The outcome had been in His hands since the beginning of time! All I did was accept God’s sovereignty. You know, we can be so arrogant sometimes. Control freak… what a joke! I’ve never really been in control of anything.

It’s like two people trying to drive the same car. Just let go of the wheel and trust Him. You don’t have a clue where you’re going anyway, but He knows exactly where He wants to take you. That has been the hardest thing for me to do along this journey, and I’m still learning. But that idea of controlling my own life, that yoke, has been broken – and letting God be God is the most liberating thing I’ve ever done.

Romans 8:28 reads, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” I know God didn’t allow my son to be sick. Sickness exists in the world because we are in a fallen, sinful state, awaiting the world’s ultimate redemption at the second coming of Jesus our king and savior. But He used the situation for my good, and He is still touching lives as a result.

Try taking your hands off the wheel and let God drive. Then enjoy the ride of your life!

Take the church to someone this week – you’ll both benefit.

King’s Invitation Ministries

P.O. Box 501

Foxworth MS 39483

http://myspace.com/kingsinvitation