JOB 1:21
Sometimes, whether subconsciously or aware, I tell God what to do in my life. I pray, “Well, Lord, this situation isn’t working out well, so if you could do something about it …” Or I pray, “God, it just makes sense that I should have this now.” It’s like I try to reason with Him. Last year I read Job, and I struggled with giving everything (yes, absolutely every situation!) to God. What scared me was that God could take it all away. Then I remembered that nothing is truly mine—everything I call my own is a gift from God. In Job 1, Job finds out that all his animals and servants were killed by raiders and fire and that his house collapsed on his children. Basically, all he had was lost. Although he was anguished, the first words out of his mouth were in praise and submission to God. Wow! Later his wife tells him to curse God and die, but Job replies, “You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God and not trouble?” So many times I have that wrong attitude. I want God to give me all I want, yet I grumble about even the slightest trials. I have been learning that giving up my life to God is a daily process. Each day, I need to make the decision to let go of my own desires and let God be in control.
Julia Postema, 16, Jonathan Edwards Academy, Erving, MA
Today, Lord, I want to make the decision to let go
of what I want and let You be in control. And I pray that I will
do the same thing tomorrow and the next day and forever.