Whac-A-Mole: Humanism — Monday
Psalm 8:3-4
When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them? (NIV)
During the great power outage of 2023 (shoutout to the windstorms that took out my entire neighborhood’s power grid), my roommates and I lost power to our house for six days. When the lights first flickered off, it was late in the afternoon, and we felt confident that our power would be restored. After a few hours of fervently hoping it would turn back on, we received a harrowing text from our landlord telling us that the plumbing at our house was directly affected by the power outage (just sump pump things). Not only were we unable to use anything requiring an outlet, but we also weren’t able to use anything that required running water. While some of my roommates retreated to friends’ or families’ houses that still had power, the rest of us stuck it out a few days before we also evacuated the premises. The worst part was that we had absolutely no control over our situation. We were at the mercy of our electric company that was already trying to restore power to the entire city.
Something I’ll never forget about that time is stepping outside at night to look at the sky. The only sources of light were the moon and the stars, and I had never seen the constellations quite as clearly in my neighborhood as I did that week. Despite my circumstances, it was a beautiful reminder of God’s care for not just me, but for all creation, and it allowed me to rest in the knowledge that He is in control.
When things don’t go our way, it can be so easy to feel helpless or, on the flip side, feel indignation. These feelings can lead us to a sense of false authority. As much as we may want to have final say over our own lives, there is genuine rest, relief, and reassurance in knowing that we are not ultimate—God is. Submitting to His plan and His authority brings us unspeakable joy.
Monday’s Reflection
Think about a situation in your life that feels out of your control. Take some time today and ask the Lord to help you surrender it to Him.