092907

September 29, 2007

God Isn't a Circular Communicator

by Shana Schutte

My mother talks in details. If you meet her, she probably won't just tell you she purchased fabric for her latest wall hanging. Instead, she'll tell you why she purchased the fabric, who she was with at the store, when she did it, and how much it cost. She might say something like, "You know Mary? She's my neighbor who is married to the plumber and she has a schnauzer. Anyway, I went shopping with her today for two hours and I purchased some fabric from the store around the corner from Judy's house. You remember Judy, right? Well, the fabric has a sort of blue background with an orange pattern running through it. I just love patterns. I make a lot of quilts using them. You should try it. Anyway, the fabric was on sale. $2.99 per yard. Great deal!"

I recently heard on a radio program that my mother is a "circular communicator"--she starts with a topic, talks in a circle while adding details and then, in conclusion, she ties all the information together in a verbal bow. In years past I wished God was more like my mother, that He would give me more details to answer all my questions. Because I didn't feel loved by Him, I didn't feel safe. I was certain that more knowledge would mean I'd have more control without the possiblity of ruining my life. After years of frustration and reasoning too much, I finally became convinced of God's love. As a result, I stopped demanding I know everything about His plans for me.

One afternoon, it struck me how much I'd matured in this area when I read page after page in my journals from years past. I chuckled when I read how, on numerous occasions, I thought God was doing a particular thing in my life; when in retrospect, that wasn't what He was doing at all! Imagine that! I didn't have a clue what was going on and He worked it out--without my help! I'm thankful I no longer feel the same fear-driven compulsion to know everything about my life in advance.

David knew how to let go of the details and let God deal with them. In Psalm 131:1-2, he wrote, "I do not concern myself with great matters, or things too wonderful for me. But I have stilled and quieted my soul; like a weaned child with its mother. Like a weaned child is my soul within me."

David learned the art quieting himself when He didn't have all the answers about life. He chose to let the God who loved Him take the wheel.

If you're anxiety-driven today over something that doesn't make sense, give your heart and mind a rest. And like David, choose to let God be in charge--without giving you all the details.

"The Lord reigns, He is robed in majesty; The Lord is robed in majesty and armed with strength. The world is firmly established; it cannot be moved." Psalm 93:1 (NIV)

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