Open Hands

I tend to plan, and plan, and plan... and look at life in a way that I have everything under control.  The truth?  I don't have it all under control.  I have planned a life that I think I am going to live, but the truth is, that may not be the life that God has planned for me to live.  We face challenges all the time in life that are things that we do not expect to deal with.  We go through hurt and pain that we never wanted to experience.  But, it is all a part of the perfect plan that God has set out for us. 

I have been told several times over the past few months to be "open handed" about life, people, and situations that are going on around me.  To have a clenched fist is to be holding onto things that you are unwilling to give over to God, and this visual has really helped me to see what it looks like to surrender completely.  Personally, I am very bad at letting people and things go because I want to fix things, change things and make everything right.  But, in reality there is no way that I am going to be able to do that.

There are going to be times when we have to endure suffering, and when we will have to face trials, but when we face them with an open hand, and let God have control we will start to see the beautiful thing that He is doing through that trial.  I always have to remember that when I am in the situation I cannot see the bigger picture.  I don't know what this little part of my life looks like in the grand scheme of things.  All I can do is trust that God is doing a work in my life that is going to make me stronger in the end, and that whatever it is, it is going to be pleasing to Him.

                      "Sometimes you've got to put on your waders and walk through the mud."


So, it is inevitable that we are going to face problems, trials and hardships in our lives, but how we react and handle them is key.  Keep an open hand, don't clench your fist and hold onto little pieces of something... which is obviously easier said than done.. and let God have all of you.