By Guest Writer
Control and power. We love them when we have them, and we struggle when we are subject to them. As a parent, I have to admit that any power I think I have over the small humans that paw at me is an illusion. I only have the façade of power.
I was speaking with a single friend recently and he was asking about my approach to parenting. He may have seen small glimpses of my kids being kind or obedient and wanted to know my secret. So I told him, “Here it is, and I would suggest you write this down: I continually pray, ‘Jesus help me.’” Yep, that is it. My book will be out soon, and please, no pictures.
I am slowly moving to the place where I can admit that I do not have the power I wish I had. I cannot control things the way I want to, and my life often feels like it has been taken out from under my authority. My arms do not stretch far enough to control what I want.
I can work myself into despair because of my lack of control. This is actually quite easy to do, and sickeningly appealing. It is one thing to be in control and another to know the One in control. One is something I fight for, and the other is provided for me.
“He stretched out His hand over the sea; He made kingdoms tremble” (Isaiah 23:11).
The One who is mighty in grace and mercy, the One who says to me “You are mine!”, is the One who shaped the world and calms the ocean. He is the One who is King and rules His creation. As this King rules, He asks us to trust in His rule. He asks us to trust that His outstretched hands reach far enough.
God’s rule is mightier and lovelier than our own control could ever be. His hands, so strong and bold, hold us just where we are. When your faith is weak, remember that this same God who cares for you raised Jesus from the dead and gives you life in His name, through faith in the Son of God.
Written by Jason Tippetts
2 thoughts on "The Lord Will Reign As King"
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Grady Cox says:
Very insightful and humbling devotional with the Scripture this day. I must decrease, Christ must increase. That is a fact. Does my attitude resound harmoniously with what the LORD is doing? Men especially struggle with power and control. I feel confident when I think I have enough strength & power to love my wife, raise up my children, and provide for my household. But when the spit hits the fan (and it inevitably will!), like it did for the Sons of Israel and all the surrounding nations, I am stripped of my confidence because my power and control (which I even intended to use for good) disappeared like the vapor of my breath on a cold morning. But therein lies the blessing. I’m forced to discover far greater power and control; that is I’m provided for by the LORD.
“But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” 2 Corinthians 12:9 -
Nathan says:
We are not in control. God has his hand on us and we must take and rest in that. He has outstretched hand toward you and he will never fail you. When your life seems to be out of control lean into the one who has control and trust him with his leading. He is king. He is the name above all names. He is the one who holds it all together when you feel like you’re falling apart. Jesus is king he is the only one who saves!
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