“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.” Psalms 32:8 NIV
How do you handle not having the answers to questions about your life?
What is next?
How long will this take?
How is this all going to work out?
We all face those kinds of questions, and they are definitely not easy to grapple with. If you are like me, you come up with a list of possible scenarios. My brain is always trying to answer questions or understand the reason why something is happening. I guess it gives me a sense of control or security to feel like I understand. Key word: feel.
No matter how much I may feel like I understand the reason why a season is difficult and full of questions, the truth is that I don’t see the whole picture, so I don’t truly understand. But I sure like feeling like I do!
Our recent trip to Alaska allowed me to grapple with some lack of control and insecurity when we embarked on a chosen excursion called Dog Sled Summer Camp. Trainers bring the dogs to the Alaskan mountains where the temperature stays cold enough to keep them comfortable while they train to pull the sleds in the winter. Their agreement with the cruise company and tourist purchases like ours help fund the training camp.
The excursion involved a van trip on a winding mountain road with no guardrails up to the camp where the dogs would pull us in a wheeled cart as part of their training.
Insecurity and lack of control: No guardrails and a steep drop-off. A bear in the road brought the van to a halt for a while on the way up!
As we arrived, the camp full of Alaskan huskies saw us and knew that a run was coming. They barked excitedly, “Pick me! Pick me!”
Insecurity and lack of control: No say in the speed of the cart. Bears in the woods around us. Wondering if the dogs would stay on the road as the cart seemed to veer off to the side as they ran.
Here’s the thing. The trainer, called the musher, steered the cart with the reins. The dogs knew and followed the signals. The huskies weren’t scared at all. They were filled with joy at the chance to run. They had all done this many times before with many other travelers.
Even though I could see and understand all that, I struggled to trust. They ran the course and brought us back safely while I gripped the rail for the whole ride, watching and wondering if they would- instead of trusting the musher and the well-trained huskies to lead us safely through the course I didn’t know, but they did.
Something I often pray in scary situations when someone else is in charge: “Lord, I may not trust this person, but I trust You.” That prayer wasn’t even a thought at the dog sled summer camp.
I handled the insecurity and lack of control better in the uncertain season when we were waiting for our home renovations to be completed so that we could move in. My sister had graciously offered for us to live with her until the renovations were completed. In that season, I often prayed Psalm 32:8, “Lord, show us where You are looking, and we will go there.” I love the NLT translation because it refers to God’s eye on us as a “loving eye”. Not accusing. Not correcting. Loving.
We knew we needed His guidance. We could not see the whole picture, how it was going to turn out, or how long it was going to take. We knew we had to trust our leader, and God was faithful to guide and direct us. Trusting in God’s love helped us be confident that He would guide us in our decisions and carry us through to the end of that uncertain time.
In Alaska, I didn’t know the dogs or the musher leading our run through the woods. I didn’t know their character. That made it difficult to trust. But I have learned through years of experience that God is trustworthy. That made all the difference.
In an uncertain season, the best thing you can do for yourself is to admit that you have no control over the situation. You can’t make it go faster or resolve more quickly. You must release control. But it’s not just about releasing control. It’s about releasing control to Someone who has the big picture, who knows the road and is not afraid to lead you to your destination. Someone whose character is trustworthy. Peace comes when you trust the One who is leading you, even though you don’t know what is along the way. You may not know the destination, but you do know who will get you there.
In a podcast I recently heard, Ian Cron, the author of The Road Back to You about the Enneagram, was talking about his new book, The Fix, about how the Twelve Steps can help every person. He said this to describe the first steps of the program:
“I can’t. God can. I think I’ll let Him.”
That sounds like a good answer to every question I have. What about you?
What questions are you facing right now? We all have questions. None of us can explain everything or predict what will happen. In those times when you don’t know the answer, you can trust your leader to guide you with His loving eye on you.
Key Question: How do I handle questions during uncertain seasons?
A Scripture to Consider: “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.” Psalms 32:8 NIV
A YES Challenge: Take some time to write out all the questions you have for God right now. Place your hand on the paper or the screen and pray, “Lord, show me where Your loving eye is looking, and help me go there. I can’t. You can. I will let You. Amen.”
Prayer: Father, the truth is that I don’t handle questions well. I want to know the answers, and I want to know them now! I don’t like this feeling of uncertainty and insecurity. The only cure for that feeling is to trust You to lead me. I can’t know the answers. I don’t see the big picture. But You do. Help me to trust You with all of it and follow the guidance You give me. Amen.
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