In Chapter 5 of In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day, Mark Batterson observes that the longer he lives, he thinks that spiritual maturity is “less about figuring out the future and more about a moment-by-moment sensitivity to the Spirit of God.” While there’s nothing wrong with making plans and setting goals, Pastor Batterson humorously counsels that we might want to use a pencil with an eraser and keep a shredder handy!
Following Christ means that we relinquish control of our lives. Even so, we can be just like little children asking one question over and over again: “Are we there yet?” The author states that we never outgrow our child-like desire to know exactly where God is leading us and exactly when we’ll get there. That’s because we’re control freaks! Faith, Pastor Batterson notes, is quite the opposite:
” . . . faith involves a loss of control. And with the loss of control comes the loss of certainty. You never know when a five-hundred pound lion may cross your path. And faith is the willingness and readiness to embrace those uncertainties.”
Most of us, Pastor Batterson asserts, have a love/hate relationship with uncertainty. We hate negative uncertainty, but love positive uncertainty. But we can’t have it both ways- we can’t pick and choose our uncertainties. Learning to love all uncertainty is an acquired taste.
Today’s question: To what degree is control an issue at this point in your desert, land between journey? Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: “Spiritual whiplash”
