I went to visit a friend in the hospital today.

 
He has had a rough three-week stay under some hard circumstances to put it gently. But when I got there, I was delighted to see he was having a good day. We visited for awhile and then they brought “lunch.”

When I looked at his tray I honestly thought that maybe the actual plate of food slid off in the hall because this was indeed not lunch. He was served jello, ginger ale, and apple juice. What in the world?

My friend sat in disbelief. He was hungry. And now thanks to what was delivered, he was discouraged and mad. My heart broke for him. He wanted to see the doctor and ask him why he isn’t allowed to eat real food. He doubted that the doctor had his best interest in mind. He felt wronged.

But you see, his doctor knows things that my friend doesn’t know. The doctor has seen the scans, seen the numbers, and he actually does have a reason to order the jello! He does not order jello just for the fun of it.

“I often don’t like what life serves me. I often imagine my days to look different. Then, I am easily discouraged and mad.”

I realized that I do the same thing. I often don’t like what life serves me. I often imagine my days to look different. Then, I am easily discouraged and mad. I don’t understand the why or the way of the Lord. I want Him to come and explain Himself and I impatiently wait for answers so that I can convince everyone that my way was right all along. Here we go with my sin of wanting to control things.

As a woman, it is easy for me to think I have control over my little life: what I do, what I wear, what I read, what I eat—until something doesn’t go as expected. Perhaps a child can’t find their shoes or it rains or someone gets sick or we hit the snooze button. Enter grumpy woman. Bitter mom. Mean wife. Road rage behind the minivan. It’s all because I want control of my day. I had it all planned out in my mind. My way was going to be sunny and fun and wonderful. You see, if things actually went the way I want them to, I wouldn’t need God. My plans don’t include sin, or suffering, or need. And because of that, my wonderful, perfect plans also don’t include my Hero. My Prince. My Savior. My Shepherd. My Rescuer.

“If things actually went the way I want them to, I wouldn’t need God. My plans don’t include sin, or suffering, or need. And because of that, my wonderful, perfect plans also don’t include my Hero. My Prince. My Savior. My Shepherd. My Rescuer.”

My plans are always like a sunny day at Disney World with no crowds, but my reality is actually more like a Disney movie. There is a lonely helpless girl and a big bad guy and there at last comes a prince to save and rescue her. There IS a happy ending, but all because of the prince. I need to learn to rest and accept whatever comes on my tray, knowing that in the end, all will be well.

Teach me, oh Lord, to accept your will with open arms. Teach me to submit to your loving care and to humbly accept your control in my life, constantly knowing that I do not know best. Help me to rest in your goodness, knowledge, and sovereignty over all events in my life. Your way, not mine. I’ll take it, Lord. You have a lunch tray of jello for me today, Lord? Ok, please teach me to eat it with gratitude, knowing that you are good, trustworthy, and our Great Physician.

“I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.” Philippians 4:12-13