Normally when we think of the phrase “in over our head” it has a bad connotation. Typically that means we are at the place where we don’t have complete control and don’t know everything that is going on. I remember feeling like this when we brought Zeke home for the first time. At the hospital, we had everything we needed. We had people checking on us and making sure we were doing everything right. If we needed a break, we could pass Zeke off to someone else to give us a minute to breathe.
When we got home, it really hit home that we were now on our own. Reality set in, and while you know that it is on you to take care of your child, there is so much going on it can easily feel like you are drowning. Angela and I didn’t make it more than one or two days before we were calling in back-up (grandparents) to come give us a break.
Most of the time in life, in over your head is not the best place to be. However, when it comes to the things that God has called us to, that is exactly where we want to be. When we don’t have control and don’t know everything, we have to trust in Him.
“The way of a pioneer is that you don’t know how to go.”
Cindy Jacobs
Following God is one step at a time. You won’t know every step but God will use you every step of the way. As you journey along, you may get to the point that you don’t feel like you are in over your head anymore, and that is when you have to dive deeper in to God. That is when you have to push yourself again to not be complacent. You can’t just settle where you are.
“In the meantime, I will be staying here at Ephesus until the Festival of Pentecost. There is a wide-open door for a great work here, although many oppose me.”
1 Corinthians 16:8-9 NLT
Paul decided to stay in Ephesus even though there were many people who opposed him. The natural decision would be to leave. There were plenty of other places he could go that he would be welcomed with open arms. There were plenty of places he could have felt comfortable. Yet, he trusted in God to stay in Ephesus. I’m sure he didn’t feel completely comfortable or like he had it all together when many people were trying to run him out of town. But he knew God had called him there and he was trusting in that over what he may have felt.
As a parent, things definitely became more comfortable and we got the hang of taking care of a newborn. But a child does not allow us to settle. Once you get comfortable with one stage of life, they are off to a new one. Before you know it they are crawling, talking (and talking back), eating solid food, potty training, starting preschool and so much more.
The same is true with our journey with God and the things He has called us to. There is always more. There is always something new He is bringing us to. If we settle down because we feel like we have a handle on things, we will stop trusting in Him. In the things God has called me to, I want to constantly live in that place where I am in over my head and trusting in Him to get me there.
until next time…