It’s easy to feel like life is getting out of control. Deadlines come and go. You get let go from your job. Bills pile up. And then there’s tomorrow, when it starts all over again.
Peter Parker, college student, knows how you feel. You ever wonder what his major is? Physics? Chemistry? Computer engineering?
We know what his major isn’t: planning.
“Planning,” says Dr. Connors, “is not a major at this university.”
Peter has problems. He isn’t getting to his classes, and when he does show up, he shows up late. He has good intentions about completing his schoolwork, but he can’t seem to get his assignments done. And if he doesn’t do a great job on his next paper—an interview with Doctor Otto Octavius—he will fail Dr. Connors’s class.
Peter’s tardiness is not just evident at school. As a deliveryman for Joe’s Pizza, he has to uphold Joe’s “29 Minutes Or It’s Free” guarantee. He arrives late to work—again—and has only 8 minutes to go 42 blocks to deliver 8 large deep-dish pizzas. Even though he dons his Spidey costume and swings through Manhattan, he still gets to the customer 1 minute late. That’s the last straw for Mr. Aziz, who fires Peter from his much-needed delivery job.
Then J. Jonah Jameson fires Peter from the Bugle. Well, okay, Jameson does that all the time. Still, Peter has to resort to presenting a photograph of Spider-Man—which he knows Jameson will misuse—in order to get paid. And the pay doesn’t cover the advance he has already received. And with no money, Peter can’t pay his rent—which makes Mr. Ditkovich, his landlord, very unhappy.
In short, Peter’s life is not going so hot right now.
Spider-Man can do many things. He can grab a flying police car with his web, keeping it from flattening a crowd of people on the sidewalk. He can catch bad guys and stick them in a web to await the cops. He even has time to swing two children out of the path of an oncoming truck. Spidey has superhero powers that enable him to do many supernatural things. But there are some things he cannot do.
Such as get Peter to show up on time to class and to work. Or help Peter be responsible in his schoolwork. There are some occasions when superheroes are just powerless.
Maybe you feel like this sometimes. And maybe, in the midst of your life’s craziness, you have been looking for Spider-Man to show up to save the day for you. If so, you are looking in the wrong place.
Just where should you look?
Try the floor. Go on—get a good, close look at it … say, by kneeling down. And while you’re on your knees, pour out your complaints to God. Let Him know the troubles you are carrying. Don’t try to sound religious, or act as if you are intruding on something more important God was doing. He cares for you. Really.
David was king over the kingdom of Israel, and he encountered many problems. Some just came with the territory: political challenges, wars to fight, economic balance to maintain. Other problems were brought on by his disobedience to God. But one thing remained constant in David’s life: When he was in trouble, he turned to God.
Listen to these snippets of prayers from David as he was going through hard times:
When I call, give me answers. God, take my side! Once, in a tight place, you gave me room; now I’m in trouble again: grace me! hear me! (Psalm 4:1, THE MESSAGE).
Listen, God! Please, pay attention! Can you make sense of these ramblings, my groans and cries? King-God, I need your help (Psalm 5:1, THE MESSAGE).
Keep me safe, O God, I’ve run for dear life to you. I say to God, “Be my Lord!” Without you, nothing makes sense (Psalm 16:1, THE MESSAGE).
Can you see David, the mighty warrior king of Israel, on his knees pleading for God’s help? He had nowhere else to turn but to God. The same goes for us. When all looks lost, when it seems like life is piling up on us, when we just cannot go one more day, God is still God. By calling on Him for help, we acknowledge a simple truth:
He is God and we are not.
Consider the difference between daytime and nighttime. During the day, you are awake, in charge of your actions, your thoughts, all that you do. You are in control. But then at night, there is a shift. You lie down for sleep, and slowly you give up control. You don’t control your tossing and turning, you don’t decide what form your dreams will take. You have moved from control to faith—faith that you will be kept safe through the night and wake up once again in the morning.
The trick lies in learning to let go of control during the daylight hours as well. We are called to live by faith at all hours, not just while we are sleeping.
Peter Parker seeks to live in faith—faith in Spider-Man. But his Spidey powers often let him down just when he needs them. Here is good news: God will never let us down. He always comes through for us.
Start on your knees. Tell Him how out-of-control your life is just now. Don’t look for help from a superhero. Trust in the One who is greater than all.