The agile creatures stole anything loose they could grab. We tried to ask how to get our stuff back. A tour guide laughed. No one owned those monkeys. No one controlled them. He suggested we try trading goods with the animals.

In the end, he might as well have said this favorite phrase of mine:

“Not my circus, not my monkeys.”

I’d love to give credit to the person who created this phrase, but I haven’t figured out where I first heard it. Regardless, this lighthearted idiom makes a big difference when I get heavyhearted about what’s out of my control.

We all deal with monkeys that aren’t ours to control:

• Other people’s actions and attitudes
• Natural consequences
• People’s perceptions of us

Plus, we all cycle through circuses that just can’t be controlled:

• Circumstances like weather or health
• Unexpected things and unknowns
• Timing

God’s will and plans make both these lists, too.

There’s a lot outside of our control, isn’t there? Praise the Lord!
Click To Tweet

Praise the Lord (even you fellow control freaks holding your breath right now.)

1. God does not hold us accountable for things we aren’t responsible for

2. God’s grace is enough to work those monkeys and circuses for good

3. God is sovereign over all the monkeys, circuses, and you know- Even us.

“He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.” –Colossians 1:17

When we feel like something is just plain out-of-control, we need to remember the truth. These isn’t a thing out of God’s knowledge or reach. Even the things He seems to have “lost” (like that apple Eve bit into,) are included in His “all.”

All things work together for good. All God’s plans are accomplished. All is fit into His purposes. Even the wild and wily.

“Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.” –1 Peter 5:6-7

The second verse- cast your cares- is popular. But sometimes we forget what comes before it: humility. Part of surrendering control is being willing to say “I need help” and “that’s not mine.” If it’s not our circus and not our monkey, we can stop trying to take responsibility for it.

It’s tough when we care a lot to let go of what isn’t ours to manage- but that’s part of “cast your cares!”

Let’s praise the Lord of ALL today. What’s one thing you’re thankful isn’t your responsibility?

LINKUP PARTY opens at 6 am EST!

Christian Bloggers, come share your Blog with our audience below:

1. Add your Link.

2. Visit the blogger before or after and encourage them with a comment.

3. Share on social media. Click below to share on Twitter that you are joining us! We would love to have you follow the ministry on Twitter and Facebook as well: Soaring with Him FB Page

LINKUP party is open! @BethanyMcIlrath invites us to humbly admit that certain things are not ours to control. JOIN US and share your blog with our audience!
Click To Tweet

The post Not My Circus, Not My Monkeys (Recharge Wednesday Linkup) appeared first on Soaring With Him Ministries.

As I sit here today, I am experiencing adversity in a large way and needing the arms of Jesus to get me through.

I’ve tried in my own power to fix the situation at hand many times over and it’s just not working out the way that I thought that it would or should!  So, from my heart, God is sharing truth that I will now share with you and hopefully it will comfort us all and teach us His infinite wisdom that will take us through our adversity to the other side one day, where peace will prevail and panic will cease.

God tells me in Hebrews 13:5, “Never will I leave you; Never will I  forsake you.”

That’s a great promise!   Never is without end!!!  Do I trust His words?  I claim as a Christian that I  believe the Word of God is truth.  Why then, when things happen, am I and so many others like me afraid and why do we resort to our own means of solving issues as if He doesn’t exist at all?

It’s called “living in the flesh” and not “walking in the Spirit”. It’s a battle we face on a daily basis, just as Paul described in Romans 7.

As we try unsuccessfully to control situations and people without consulting God, we leave them untouched by God’s hand and, most of the time,  worse than they were before we became involved. Through our humanity and our good intentions, we can prolong lessons God is trying to teach us and other people.  By stepping into God’s plan for our life or another person’s life without the Spirit guiding us, we swerve things off course, and do a disservice to the kingdom of God.

Even if we are trying to alleviate the pain others may face, it’s wrong to step in uninvited by the Savior!

Even if we are trying to alleviate the pain others may face, it's wrong to step in uninvited by the Savior!
Click To Tweet

Solomon is a great example.  1 Chronicles 28:9 says, “As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve Him with a whole heart and a willing mind; for the LORD searches all hearts, and understands every intent of the thoughts If you seek Him, He will let you find Him; but if you forsake Him, He will reject you forever.”

We see in the life of Solomon that His own wisdom apart from God was destructive, but when he utilized God’s wisdom and followed in His truth, he was richly blessed.  We are blessed that, unlike Solomon, we have the grace of Jesus, so we do not live under the penalty of our sin – but that is no excuse for continual sin in our lives.

After we recognize the wrong of our right, what should we do?

Ask for forgiveness.  The Bible tells us in 1 John 1:9 –  “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Next, we need to remember the old saying: “without pain there is no gain.”  Trials come for a reason, and it is through the pain that we and other people we love learn hard lessons and grow in the faith.

God never promised an easy road.  He promised comfort, and strength to face our adversities.  He promised wisdom, guidance and an eternity with Him one day – in a much better place.

Through these trials, our hope is in His truth:

Psalm 34:19 says, “The righteous person may have many troubles, but the LORD delivers him from them all.”

Romans 8:28 says, ” And we know that in all things, God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to His purpose.”  All things means the good and the bad, the pleasant and not so pleasant!

Our lives, out of love for our Savior, should be an outpouring of the truth that is within us because of the Spirit that indwells us.  It’s a hard road in our flesh, but through the Spirit that indwells us, it’s not impossible.

I am encouraged today by the Lord and His truth that He has revealed to me.  And I trust you are too!  Let’s stand strong together in our faith and cry out to our Father who wants to comfort our hearts, guide our steps, and grow our hearts toward Him.

 Phillipians 4:6-7 (NLT) “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. ⁷ Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”

LINKUP PARTY at Soaring with Him!

Share your Blog with our audience below:

1. Add your Link.

2. Visit the blogger before or after and encourage them with a comment.

3. Share on social media. Click below to share on Twitter that you are joining us!

4. Grab our Recharge Wednesday LINKUP button and put it somewhere on your blog or blog post. The code is on our sidebar!

I'm Recharging! #RechargeWednesday LINKUP with @stepheewilkins and @PatHolbrook. JOIN US?
Click To Tweet

Add your blog post by clicking on the blue rectangle

The post Living with Adversity in the Arms of Jesus appeared first on Soaring With Him Ministries.