A German Shepherd, A Doberman & A Cat

A German shepherd, a doberman and a cat died. In heaven, all three faced God, who wanted to know what they believed in. The German Shepherd said, 'I believe in discipline, training and loyalty to my master.' 'Good!' said God. 'Sit at my right side.' 'Doberman, what do you believe in' asked God. The doberman answered, 'I believe in the love, care and protection of my master.' 'Aha,' said God. 'You may sit to my left.' Then God looked at the cat and asked, 'And what do you believe in?' The cat replied, 'I believe you are sitting in my seat.'"

This is funny because my daughters cat, Leo, thinks he controls the whole house. I laugh at this but sometimes I am that cat. I seem to forget that I am not god when I think that I have control over my life. I have a plan and I expect it to work out. Something happens and I try to fix it. There are some things I CANNOT fix. But I seem to wrestle with it anyway. Sometimes for a while before I turn to God.

I trust God, but in the midst of chaos and things not going how I would like, I want to take control. I want to tell God what to do. Eventually, I will be emotionally and spiritually fatigued and hand things over and let God be in control. This happens because we are trying to do something that we were not created to do. God made us to be dependent on Him.

Psalm 46: 10, "He says, 'Be still, and know that I am God'..." When we know that God is GOD, that He is the King of Kings, that He is the Great Physician, that He is the Great I Am, we can experience the ultimate peace that surpasses all understanding. Philippians 4: 7, "And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." When we are dependent on God we can have contentment and confidence in the outcome of our situation.

When we try and take the wheel away from God because we don’t trust Him, it will lead to emotional and spiritual fatigue. Why? Because we’re doing something that we weren’t created for. God made us to lean on Him in dependence—to let Him drive—which leads to contentment, and the confidence that we are exactly where we need to be, doing what we need to do, and fulfilling the role He created us for. Isaiah 64: 8, "Yet you, Lord, are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand. "

Brennan Manning wrote, “You will trust God only as much as you love Him.” And I think that works the other way also. You will love God as much as you trust Him. When love and trust are combined, faith is being experienced. The more we experience faith the more we trust and the more we trust the more dependent we become on God. And the more dependent we become on God the more we realize how much we need and love Him!

God is the only one who can completely control everything. Whenever we try to do things our way, God usually shows us that we need Him. Jacob wrestled with God and realized God is always in control, it took some pain and fear for me to remember that God's in charge of everything. Joseph also knew God's plan was better. Genesis 50: 19-21, "But Joseph said to them, 'Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.  So then, don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your children.' And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them."

God wants us to trust Him. He wants to lead us to the rock that is higher than us or our circumstances. He wants us to take refuge in the shelter of His wings. He is waiting for us to reach out and take His hand. Psalm 61: 2-4, "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. For you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the foe. I long to dwell in your tent forever and take refuge in the shelter of your wings."

Isiah 12: 2, "Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The Lord, the Lord himself, is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation." Trust that God is in full control of your life and that His plan is good!