Does your life ever feel like it is spinning out of control? Do you find yourself grasping to gain control of the events that are crashing into your life? What do you turn to when you feel as if you are about to “go under,” and you desperately try to keep from sinking into despair? What brings security to your life and gives you the motivation to keep hanging on?

I have had to scrutinize the ways that I have depended on people, circumstances, material things, relationships, or financial stability to make me feel secure in life. I have even depended on my own abilities to keep things running smoothly. I am a person who functions best when I make lists of what I need to do, and then begin accomplishing what is on them. Each day, I write down a list of things that I consult throughout the day. I also have a daily planner, and my teenage daughters’ sometimes think that I depend on it too much. A few days ago, one of them said, “If Mom would ever lose her planner, her life would come to an abrupt STOP.”

Although I don’t believe it is quite THAT bad, I know that I place a fair amount of security in gaining control of the events in my life. Although the checklists help me to not forget important tasks, they can also be a hinderance to me. Sometimes it feels like the harder I try to accomplish all of my goals, the faster more things pile up, and I end up becoming frustrated. I wish I could always see the interruptions in my day as God’s divine appointments!

I admire the calm and easy-going folks who find simple joys from “stopping and smelling the roses.” Though I find myself wanting to do this more often, it’s easy for me to have the mindset that I will be able to relax and enjoy a bit more peace and rest once I have everything checked off of my list. How many of you have also discovered that this means that you hardly ever slow down and relax? Isn’t there usually at least one more thing that you should do first? I painfully remember too many times when I told my children that I would read a book or take them outside after I did a few more things; however, later on I remembered that I never got it done. What would happen if I put these things on my important checklist instead? I cringe at the thought of how unimportant my children must feel at times. I cringe even more when I think about how God must have felt during the times when I didn’t make Him the most important focus of my day!

I am convinced that each of us search for security in our lives, and we turn to various things to achieve this security. The biggest
problem is that we will NEVER find true security apart from the Lord Jesus Christ. I have personally seen how insecure I am when my security is placed on temporal things. Even when it’s based on the GOOD things that God has blessed me with.

As a young wife and mother, I found such delight and fulfillment in the special relationships with my husband and the wonderful children that God blessed us with. I delighted more in THESE relationships then in my relationship with Jesus. Although I loved the Lord and was living for Him, I found myself neglecting my personal times with God. In reality, I allowed my spouse and children to become idols in my life, because I delighted in them more than I delighted in the Lord. God had to show me that the center of my life needed to be built ON HIM rather than on the great gifts FROM HIM.

As my children’s lives were repeatedly hanging in the balance, I was able to clearly see that each gift that God has given me can easily be taken away in just a moment’s time. I can allow them to be the center of my life, but if they are all taken from me, the center — the very core — of my life will drop out from underneath me. However, if God is the center of my life, then even if I lose every precious relationship and everything He has given to me, I will still be able to experience true and everlasting security. Even through all the pain and loss that I have experienced over the years, I have such an incredible sense of security because I know that, no matter what trial or loss I may face, God is my security and I will never have to fear losing it. (You can read more about our story in our book, “Big Mountain, Bigger God.”)

Do you worry and fret about your future or about the shape of our economy? What are the things that you naturally turn to when you feel threatened about something? Have you identified idols in your life? Do you turn to an addiction when you are upset or worried? Do you allow your “arm of flesh” to struggle for control in your life when you should be turning to God and focusing your
attention on Him? In 2 Cor. 4:18, God’s word tells us, “Fix your eyes not on what is seen, [circumstances] but on what is unseen…” [God’s presence] Is this what you are known to do? Just how secure are you?

This is a quote from an awesome devotional book that I highly recommend: “Just as a spinning ballerina must keep returning her eyes to a given point to maintain her balance, so you must keep returning your focus to Me. Circumstances are in flux, and the world seems to be whirling around you. The only way to keep your balance is to fix your eyes on Me, the One who never changes. If you gaze too long at your circumstances, you will become dizzy and confused. Look to Me, refreshing yourself in My presence, and your steps will be steady and sure.” ~ Jesus Calling

~Cindy (For The Mullett Family)