Joy A. Mead

Do you have the organizational planner in you? I know I sure do. 

If you give me a task, I’ll give myself a target deadline, then work back how much time I need and go from there. 

This kind of mentality is great if we’re just talking about accomplishments and getting things done, but rarely is it most useful for the complexities of life that only God can sort out. 

We’ve been in an odd season as a family of trying to determine God’s will and direction. At quite a few times, we have felt, “Hard pressed on every side, but not crushed,” as Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 4:8. It has felt challenging, yet we have known we are completely held in God’s loving arms.

But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭4‬:‭7‬-‭9‬

An opportunity I had been praying on for years started to open up a couple months ago, but instead of peace, I felt fear, anxiety, uneasy—the exact opposite of what I was expecting.

That’s when the Lord challenged me with my tendency toward organization. There’s nothing wrong with being organized, but when we use it as a tool to take control of a situation, then there can be an issue. I was convicted that I had been trying to figure things out in my way and my timing, however that would not give God the full glory. 

In exhaustion and weariness, I finally surrendered my dream, my hope, my future to God once again. I relinquished my desire to take control and completely let go of this particular prayer request. All I whispered was, “Over to you, God,” as nearly instant peace and freedom flooded my heart. 

Jesus knows we can’t figure out the many details of our lives on our own. He also knows that things don’t tend to go so well for us when we forget to invite the Holy Spirit to provide his supernatural energy and wisdom. We need to commit all our ways to the Lord and let him do his working in his way and timing. 

Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭16‬:‭3‬

I’ve been finding that my simple “Over to you, God” prayer has been so helpful in regularly reminding my heart of who is in charge, who I serve, and what my purpose is here on this earth. It works for prayer requests, great and small, as  I offer up all of my petitions to God, and allow him to be fully in control. 

For the prayers you can’t quite figure out or are unable to have an answer yet, hand it back to God and see what happens when you surrender your request with willingness and humility as you declare, “Over to you, God.” 

Regardless of how your prayer is eventually answered, you will be blessed with his peace beyond understanding, grace to wait in the unknown, and freedom from the burdens you were never meant to carry. 

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

‭‭Philippians‬ ‭4‬:‭6‬-‭7‬