Losing Control

This week it seems like there are a lot of people in my life with nothing better to do than to make my life more difficult. From professors to police men (I was only doing 6 over, and I wasn’t even meaning to) I can’t help but shake the feeling that there is a worldwide conspiracy to really annoy me. I mean, can’t you people get a hobby or something? I don’t bring this up to complain, but rather to highlight the fact that God has been using these situations to remind me of a lesson or two.

First of all, when dealing with difficult people it’s important to remember that I can’t control them. But also, it’s equally important to remember that I can’t control myself, either. You see, when I’m in control, my life is out of control. I make choices inspired by anger, revenge, bitterness, and frustration. I can’t be in control of my own life or it starts to go in a direction that I don’t want it to go.

That’s why Paul says in Romans 8:9 “But you are not controlled by your sinful nature. You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you.” He is encouraging Christ followers to give up control of their lives and give that control over to the Holy Spirit. When I live under His control I make better choices, I forgive and I move on. When I let the Spirit control me I can look back at a day filled with no regrets, regardless of what happened to me.