Who’s in Charge Here?

I recently heard a story that a pastor once told about a church he served in Tennessee where an eccentric and flamboyant elder impressed him with her intense commitment to the faith. She was not pious in the least, but nonetheless, she was clear and articulate when it came to expressing her faith.

One evening while he was at a dinner party in her home, he told about how her teenage daughter, probably frustrated with all of the discussion of religion, asked, “Mother, you talk about religion all the time. Why are you so religious anyway?” Her question brought a loud hush to the dining table. Her mother paused dramatically, pushed her chair back from the table, stood, and responded, “Every morning before you are awake, I rise and walk into the living room. I lift my arms and ask, ‘Who’s in charge here?’ The answer always comes back: ‘Not you!’ That’s why I am religious.

The life of faith indeed begins with the realization that we are not in charge. It is only from there, that we can begin to surrender ourselves to the One who is in charge.

Psalm 61:2 offers this plea:

From the ends of the earth I call to you, I call as my heart grows faint; lead me to the Rock that is higher than I.

Let us pray: Gracious God, there are indeed moments in life when we are reminded that we are not in control and that ultimately we are not in charge. We have to trust that our lives and our loved ones rest securely in your hands. Meet us at the place of our need today. Fill us with your mercy and your healing grace – we humbly ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.