Friday, September 15, 2006

Here's what I know

God is in control.

Through heartache, trouble, trial, disappointment. He is in control.

Through every moment, every tear, every triumph. He is in control.

He has promised to never leave us. Never forsake us. We can choose to embrace that or to doubt it, but it doesn't change the truth. He is in control.

How obvious. How true. How often overlooked. The simple idea that no matter what, no matter where, no matter how broken, wounded, joyful, or quiet, He is in that moment.

And He is in control.

Next week, many of us will be heading to Dallas for the ACFW conference. We're putting all our ducks in a row, making beautiful one sheets and practicing well-worded hooks. We've prepared proposals, thought through meetings, perhaps even written a script of what we want to say. And that's good. Being prepared, having a plan, working toward a goal, those are things we must do to move toward our dreams and His plans.

But in the end, it's His will, not ours. His timing, not ours. His purpose, His plan, and His perfect knowledge of what is best. Not ours.

That doesn't mean we have to understand it. It doesn't mean we even have to like it. It just is what it is.

I knew this when I started the journey toward publication, but my experiences as an author have brought this truth into sharp focus. I can choose to question, to worry, to wait with anxiety and trepidation, or I can release those things to God and let Him work out the details of where I'm headed and what He will do with the gift He's granted me. Even more, I can grasp my career with both hands, holding onto it with tight fists and determination, or I can let it go, watching it float on air breathed by His warm and wonderful grace. In the end, I cannot know where this journey is leading me. I can only trust that His will is best, His knowledge, His foresight, and His love for me determining the best path for my feet to trod.

Wherever you're going, whatever gift you are trying to use for Him, I pray that you will rest in the assurance that He is in control.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Amen.

Dani ;o)

Shirlee McCoy said...

Did you get any work done last night?

Anonymous said...

I jotted down everything we talked about so I wouldn't forget anything and that's about as far as I got before my eyes started crossing *grin*...

I'm just relieved we found a way for my heroine not to die *GRIN* I'm still laughing about that!

And, I'm excited about the direction it's going in. Very excited. I'm so thankful I finally know why I didn't like the ending. There's hope for me yet ;o)

How's your stuff coming?

Dani

Shirlee McCoy said...

There's always been hope for you. I just wasn't so sure about your heroine. Just think, you could have had the shortest series in history - two thirds of a book. LOL

My stuff? What stuff?

Anonymous said...

The proposal you're working on..

Dani