June 21, 2007
The Need for ‘Control’
In my opinion, much of our drive to control (circumstances, others etc) is based in fear (fear of failure, fear of others, fear of being embarrassed, fear of the future etc) and if our fight to control is not an exercise against outright fear, we at least want to minimize the uncertainties in our lives. I am not talking about fear of ‘real’ dangers, but the fear that is linked to ‘imagined’ potentials.
Many think the opposite of fear is courage or bravery, but really the opposite is love. Perfect love casts out fear - there is a direct relationship between the fear in mylife and the settled-ness in my heart that I am loved (the one who fears is not perfected - has not come to wholeness in the matter of being loved). To use a metaphor: the small child of the greatest potentate enters his presence without any fear while others quake. Why? Because he knows he’s loved.
Another way to put it might be that in the process of becoming whole we are continually given opportunities to exchange all the uncertainties of life for the certainty of God’s character. This is an exercise in dependence and we should recogize it for the revolutionary action and rebellious stand against the systems (who are so quick to promise all manner of ‘certainties’).
As we trust God’s character of Love and particularly His active and involved love toward us, we don’t have to understand the circumstances of our lives in order to live freely and live loved. Faith sees past the uncertainties, and in some sense even embraces them, knowing that the certainty of Papa’s love is the only place where there is real solid ground.
Fear, on the other hand, runs from uncertainty or tries to erect systems and devices or gives allegiance to anyone or anything that promises to make life more certain. But the ultimate little child pointing out the emperor’s nakedness, is death. Death is a mockery of every attempt at certainty and why the world lives in fear of death, the one ‘potential’ that is assuredly ‘certain’.
The life of being loved and the life of faith is a life of risk; learning to hear the voice of One who loves in the midst of screaming uncertainties and demanding necessities. It is a journey and process…this learning to live loved. We will make lots of mistakes, but like Peter and Mack, we will come to understand and actually be overwhelmed by joy when we begin to realize that we would rather be sinking out on the water with Jesus than ’safe’ back in the boat, without Him.
-willie
5 Comments on The Need for ‘Control’ »
June 23, 2007
kent @ 1:36 pm:
what a timely message to return home to. Being grounded further in Him……..
January 15, 2008
Jon Crouch @ 5:50 pm:
Have you heard of Love & Logic? Group out of Golden, CO. They have some amazing stuff along the same thought line. FYI>
JC
July 8, 2008
faye williams @ 5:00 pm:
I have just finished The Shack in two days. This was given to me by my pastor, who really knew I could use it. After personal tragedy, I struggle with strongholds of anger and such deep, deep pain. I too , have asked so many of the questions I got ansers and hope from this story. I am amazed at such giftedness of writing. THis book though fiction challenges such biblical truths, that I will need to reread and reread to try to grasp such new perspective. This book makes me think it is possible to live in the irony of pain and peace. In grace, faye
August 7, 2008
Kate @ 5:06 am:
Paul, do you have scripture references for any of the writing in the Shack? I loved the story and the way it left me with much to think about and rejoice over. I decided to go through the book and write scripture references in the margins, whew, turned out to be a much bigger task than I thought. LOL Just wondered if YOU had certain verses that you were illustrating in your story. I know you are busy with this site but maybe a blog about certain verses would be in the future?
August 16, 2008
Jennifer @ 7:00 pm:
How grateful I am that this book exists. Never did I imagine my faith could be altered so deeply by “a book”. When something offers grace in a simple way, I often try to discount it -instead relying on the intellectual route-a character defect that I am working on overcoming. However, much like the 12 steps found in Alcoholics Anonymous and Al-A-Non literature, The Shack, has become a living and breathing part of my relationship with the trinity. Thank you for lighting this path…I feel an airiness in my heart that can be directly contributed to a budding relationship with the divine. On a lighter note-I have been eating, gardening and experiencing the natural world with a greater joy! I sit at your feet in gratitude!