Turn it Over to God
I know this lady who was praying and believing for her husband to come to church with her. This went on year after year, and she was very determined and passionate. She did everything she could. She put scriptures up all over her house. She would leave her Bible open hoping he would happen to read it. She was constantly encouraging him to come. In spite of all that, he wouldn't budge.
After a year or so, it began to frustrate her. It began to wear her down. She lost her joy. She didn't have the enthusiasm she once had. She would come down for prayer month after month, discouraged and upset, "Joel, I just don't know what else I can do." One day I told her that the best thing she could do was release the whole matter and turn it over to God. I said, "You've done everything you can do. You've prayed. You've believed. Now put it on the altar. Have the attitude, 'If he never comes, God, I'm still going to be happy. If he never changes, God, I'm still going to trust You.'"
Maybe today you have some things you need to turn over to God. Are there people who are frustrating you because they won't change? Just say, "God, I've done all I can do. I am not going to live my life upset anymore. I know only You can change people, so I'm going back to that place of peace. And God, if it never works out, I put it on the altar. It's up to You." There's a freedom when you release it. I'm not saying to release your dreams and give up on your promises. No, release the frustration. Release the worry and come back to the place of peace knowing that God is in complete control.
That's what this lady did. She turned it over to the Lord, and she became a different person. I would see her week after week with a big smile on her face. She wasn't upset or frustrated anymore. She was enjoying her life and trusting God. Then about two years later on a Sunday morning out of the blue, her husband said, "I want to go to church with you today." She nearly passed out! It was totally his idea. He came that Sunday, and they've been coming together ever since. That was over four years ago, and now they hardly ever miss a service.
Friend, when you let go, it allows God to go to work in amazing ways.
I love what David said in Psalm 31, "God, I'm trusting You. My future is in Your hands." This tells me we don't have to struggle to make things happen. We don't have to worry that our God-given dreams are not going to come to pass. We can stay in peace knowing that the future is in His loving hands.
After a year or so, it began to frustrate her. It began to wear her down. She lost her joy. She didn't have the enthusiasm she once had. She would come down for prayer month after month, discouraged and upset, "Joel, I just don't know what else I can do." One day I told her that the best thing she could do was release the whole matter and turn it over to God. I said, "You've done everything you can do. You've prayed. You've believed. Now put it on the altar. Have the attitude, 'If he never comes, God, I'm still going to be happy. If he never changes, God, I'm still going to trust You.'"
Maybe today you have some things you need to turn over to God. Are there people who are frustrating you because they won't change? Just say, "God, I've done all I can do. I am not going to live my life upset anymore. I know only You can change people, so I'm going back to that place of peace. And God, if it never works out, I put it on the altar. It's up to You." There's a freedom when you release it. I'm not saying to release your dreams and give up on your promises. No, release the frustration. Release the worry and come back to the place of peace knowing that God is in complete control.
That's what this lady did. She turned it over to the Lord, and she became a different person. I would see her week after week with a big smile on her face. She wasn't upset or frustrated anymore. She was enjoying her life and trusting God. Then about two years later on a Sunday morning out of the blue, her husband said, "I want to go to church with you today." She nearly passed out! It was totally his idea. He came that Sunday, and they've been coming together ever since. That was over four years ago, and now they hardly ever miss a service.
Friend, when you let go, it allows God to go to work in amazing ways.
I love what David said in Psalm 31, "God, I'm trusting You. My future is in Your hands." This tells me we don't have to struggle to make things happen. We don't have to worry that our God-given dreams are not going to come to pass. We can stay in peace knowing that the future is in His loving hands.