When Things Are Spiraling Out of Control

 

We watch news headlines, monitor bank accounts, track health symptoms, and feel the weight of all the variables we can't manage. The illusion of control slips through our fingers daily, leaving us exhausted from trying to hold it all together.

Sound familiar? If you're nodding your head right now, you're not alone. Anxiety has become the background noise of modern life, humming constantly in the back of our minds. We check our phones obsessively. We replay conversations, wondering if we said the wrong thing. We lie awake at night running through worst-case scenarios, trying to prepare for every possible outcome. Embracing God's sovereignty can help us find peace amid this chaos because it shifts our focus from control to trust in His plan.

The truth is, anxiety feeds on this exact feeling—the sense that everything is spinning out of control and it's somehow our job to hold it all together. But what if we're operating under a false assumption? What if the problem isn't that things are out of control, but that we've convinced ourselves they need to be under our control?

All Things—Not Just the Good Things

Consider Paul's remarkable confidence in Romans 8:28: "And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose." Read that again, slowly. Not "some things" or "the things we understand"—ALL things. Even the hard stuff. Even the confusing things. Even the things that hurt.

This isn't toxic positivity or spiritual bypassing. Paul isn't suggesting we slap a happy face sticker on genuine suffering. He wrote this letter while facing persecution, imprisonment, and constant danger. He knew hardship intimately. Yet he could say with confidence that God was working through it all—not despite the chaos, but because of His love and sovereignty, which are always working for our good.

Think about the stories in Scripture. Joseph was betrayed by his brothers. Moses is leading a grumbling nation through the wilderness. David hid in caves while running from Saul. Esther is facing potential death to save her people. None of these situations felt "under control" in the moment. But looking back, we can see God's hand weaving every thread into a bigger tapestry than any of them could have imagined.

Trading Control for Trust

Here's where the freedom comes: The circumstances may feel out of control. But they're not out of HIS control, which should fill you with reassurance and peace. And that changes everything. Pastor and Bible teacher Chuck Swindoll stated, "Anything under God’s control is never out of control.”

When we recognize that God is sovereign—not just theoretically, but actually at work in the chaos of our daily lives—we can finally exhale. We don't have to white-knuckle our way through life anymore. We don't need contingency plans for our contingency plans. We can let go because we trust whose hands are actually holding everything together.

This doesn't mean we become passive or irresponsible. We still do our part—we still work hard, make wise decisions, and steward what God has entrusted to us. But we do it from a place of rest instead of panic. We act with intention instead of anxiety. We plan with wisdom instead of worry.

The difference is where our confidence lies. Are we trusting in our ability to manage every variable? Or are we trusting in God's promise that He's working all things together for our good? Trusting in His plan can bring hope and peace to your heart.

Today, whatever feels out of control in your life—the relationship that's strained, the uncertain job situation, the health concern that's worrying you—remember this: it may be beyond your control, but it's not beyond His. And the God who promises to work all things together for good is the same God who loved you enough to send His Son. That should inspire love and gratitude, making Him worth trusting.

You can let go now. He got this. May the Lord bless you and keep you, and may the Lord use these words to renew your spirit.

Pastor Dimas

LIVING WITH URGENCY: SOWING TOGETHER FOR HARVEST

 

John 4:35-38

Don't you have a saying, 'It's still four months until harvest'? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest. Even now, the one who reaps draws a wage and harvests a crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together. Thus, the saying 'One sows and another reaps' is true. I sent you to reap what you have not worked for. Others have done the hard work, and you have reaped the benefits of their labor." (NIV)

God has an intense longing for us to experience the blessings of teamwork. He knows we won't lead fulfilled lives if we work only for ourselves. Each of us is made for something bigger—God created us for teamwork. Many people never realize the value of this concept, and that's truly sad because they miss out on one of life's great privileges. By following God's instructions, each one of us can be an effective team player in His kingdom work.

God wants to do far greater things in our lives than we could ever imagine if we fully surrender to Him. I've been thinking about and praying that God would give me the courage to pursue people for Christ. He has called me to live with urgency. When we settle for safety and security rather than chasing our God-given passions and pursuing the people He's calling us to reach, we stall the maximum impact God wants to have in us. Our stubbornness, lack of surrender, and limited view of God often hinder His power from having its full impact on our lives. When we prevent God from having total control, we end up settling for the good while God is urging us to pursue greatness.

OPENING OUR EYES TO THE HARVEST

Living with urgency—sowing together for harvest—is what God is calling us to do. God has placed passions inside each of us. Going after the unchurched will require us to step outside our comfort zones, take risks like sharing our faith despite our fears, and at times look like fools. We must stop spending the majority of our time making plans for God and start seeking Him. Too often, we make God's will seem too complicated for our lives and neglect to see Him in the obvious. Instead of going with God and allowing Him to teach us on the journey, we want everything to be perfect and end up doing nothing.

Living with urgency requires us to submit ourselves fully to God. When we do, we can feel hopeful and confident that God's glory will be revealed through our obedience, even in challenging circumstances. Jesus said, "Open your eyes and look at the fields. They are ripe for the harvest" (v. 35). What did He want them to see? The fields! And what were the fields? The multitude of people waiting to be reached.

Listen, the problem is still the same today. While we enjoy the fellowship, teaching, and preaching, the fields are waiting to be harvested. This is not a problem only for our associational work. It is not merely a problem for our missionaries. It is our problem—it is our harvest, those are our fields, and this is our work.

LIFTING OUR EYES TO OUR COMMUNITY

When it comes to the unchurched in our community, we can seek to understand who they are, or we can continue to dismiss them as the disciples did. You may need to begin by repenting of your own sinful thinking toward some of the fields. Ask God to forgive you for dismissing parts of the harvest because they are not like you. We know what we should do: lift our eyes to our field, and see the harvest awaiting our laboring hands. Do you see the fields?Let the change begin with you. Live with urgency.

May the Lord bless you and keep you and may the Lord used these words to renew your spirit.

Pastor Dimas

Trusting God's Path for Your Journey

 

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. (Proverbs 3:5-6)

As we step into a new year, many of us arrive with carefully crafted resolutions and ambitious plans we hope to accomplish in the months ahead. We outline our goals, map our strategies, and envision the victories we'll celebrate by year's end. Yet there's something profoundly humbling we must acknowledge: we cannot see the future. Without God's direction and wisdom guiding our steps, we may feel uncertain, but trusting in His guidance can bring reassurance and peace for our journey.

The truth is, the most we can anticipate is a limited horizon. Beyond our immediate view lie mountains we didn't expect to climb—challenges that will test our faith, trials that will stretch our patience. These circumstances will examine our commitment, and seasons that will either strengthen or expose the actual condition of our relationship with God. Our carefully drawn maps cannot account for every detour, every steep ascent, or every valley of shadows we'll traverse.

This is precisely why Proverbs 3:5-6 offers such timeless wisdom for our journey. These verses aren't merely inspirational words to hang on our walls; they can become the guiding theme that shapes how we live every single day this year. When fear or uncertainty about the future clouds our judgment, these truths offer comfort and encouragement that transcend our circumstances, helping us trust God's plan even when we can't see the whole picture.

These words become our substitute for any map we've drawn for our lives, especially when our eyes cannot discern the curves ahead, when we don't know where to stop or proceed, when difficulties seem impossible, and when mountains block our view of what's beyond. God's promise to make our paths straight doesn't mean He removes every obstacle; instead, He provides clarity, purpose, and direction even through the most winding roads.

Here's the beautiful reality: God wants to be our guide. He intimately knows our needs and fully recognizes that without Him walking beside us, we will ultimately fail. Our human wisdom, however impressive it may seem, cannot compare to His divine perspective. God has a unique, purposeful plan for each of us—not a generic template, but a custom-designed path that reflects His love and purposes for our individual lives.

Yet God is waiting. He waits for each of us to pay attention to His voice, to trust in Him with all our hearts rather than partial devotion, and to reject our stubborn reliance on our own abilities to guide ourselves through life. The invitation stands: He can and wants to guide us every day—not occasionally, not just in crises, but in every decision, every relationship, every challenge we face—if we are willing to surrender complete control of our lives to Him. Embracing this can fill us with hope and confidence in His loving guidance.

May God bless you richly this year, and may these words help you continually renew your spirit as you walk the path He has prepared for you.

Pastor Dimas

Walking Through Life with God

 

“But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one”. 2 Thessalonians 3:3

Every season of life has both ups and downs, positive and negative situations. We experience moments of joy and celebration, but we also face seasons of difficulty, disappointment, and pain. On top of the natural challenges that come with living in a broken world, there are spiritual powers actively working against us, trying to get us to lose hope and abandon our faith.

In the midst of difficult seasons—or even outright persecution—it can be easy to forget that God is still present with us. When circumstances overwhelm us, and the darkness seems impenetrable, we may wonder if God has forgotten us or turned away. But Scripture consistently reminds us of a powerful truth: He does not abandon us in the midst of suffering. Rather, He strengthens us and walks with us through the pain. We are never alone, even when we feel most isolated.

The church in Thessalonica experienced a very similar situation. As they earnestly prayed for the gospel to spread across their region and transform their communities, they endured severe suffering and fierce opposition. The message of Christ threatened the existing power structures and cultural norms, and the early believers paid a price for their faithfulness. Understanding their struggle, Paul writes to the members of these churches not only to encourage them in their present trials but to remind them of God's unchanging character—the foundation upon which they could anchor their hope.

He tells them first that the Lord is faithful. This declaration should inspire confidence in God's unwavering faithfulness, reassuring believers that His consistency provides a firm foundation during life's challenges. God's faithfulness also means that He fulfills His promises. Reminding believers that God's promises are sure can strengthen their hope and motivate them to persevere through hardships.

Second, Paul tells these believers that God will strengthen them and protect them in the midst of what they're experiencing. Emphasizing God's constant presence can help believers feel secure and comforted amid their struggles.

Because God never changes —because His character is eternally consistent —He can strengthen and protect us through every experience in life—whether we're walking through valleys or standing on mountaintops. His faithfulness isn't circumstantial; it's eternal.

So take some time today to thank God for His strength and faithfulness. Reflect on how He has walked with you through past difficulties. Ask Him to help you in your current circumstances, and to give you confidence in His power and presence. He who began a good work in you will be faithful to complete it.

May the Lord bless you and keep you, and may the Lord used these words to renew your spirit.

Pastor Dimas