I Like Control

This week our car went in for an oil change and came out with hundreds of dollars in additional repairs and a long list of things that needed to be fixed or replaced, including new tires.

Expensive and not on my "to do" list. Stressful for me.

This week our washing machine has been sitting in the middle of our mudroom, because it is not draining properly and there is likely a clog in our main line somewhere. We tried to remedy the problem, but the tools we have are not adequate for the job. We need a plumber.

Out of my control, messy, and distracting. Stressful for me.

This week, I've officially come to terms with the fact that the mattress we purchased on the cheap six years ago is terrible and I believe causing me to have some minor back pain, which I'm sure will only become worse if we don't change the mattress.

Annoying. Stressful for me.

I often think about this fictitious, perfect time when all things are paid off, we have no surprise expenses, nothing ever breaks or becomes ineffective, and on, and on, and on...That just isn't reality in this life. (Thankfully it is in heaven!) The truth is, we live in a fallen, sinful world full of trouble, problems, inconveniences, and turmoil. Our cars, washing machines, mattresses, and our bodies, are failing. It is a good reminder to me that God is in control. He created everything that my eyes can see, my ears can hear, my fingers can touch, and everything beyond that.

A few months ago, during a particularly difficult moment of frustration over things not going my way, Cliff pointed me to Psalm 121. It has been a source of encouragement to me over the last few months, as well as a source of conviction. This text also provided an opportunity to confess that I don't always look to God for my hope or trust that He will keep me.

I pray this Psalm for myself and for you today--that we would be encouraged in the Truth that God keeps us and that ultimately our hope is in Jesus and not in a "perfectly" tidy home, life, job, bank account, etc.

Psalm 121
I lift up my eyes to the hills.
From where does my help come?
My help comes from the LORD,
who made heaven and earth.

He will not let your foot be moved;
he who keeps you will not slumber.
Behold, he who keeps Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.

The LORD is your keeper;
the LORD is your shade on your right hand.
The sun shall not strike you by day,
nor the moon by night.

The LORD will keep you from all evil;
he will keep your life.
The LORD will keep
your going out and your coming in
from this time forth and forevermore.