Striving or abiding?

As humans, we like control. Seeking control keeps us feeling like we’re on top. Large and in charge. Nothing wrong with being a leader—the world can use them, particularly those with moral fiber and who seek after God’s heart. But often we struggle and strive to control things that are not ours. Namely, our own lives. Controlling our lives too tightly can make us lose control.

Being godly does not require striving or to be controlling. Organization and orderliness notwithstanding, to be controlling means you have an excessive need to be the boss. There are things out of our control that can only be dealt with by God. One of those things is our sanctification.

In John 4:14, Jesus says, “… whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”

God wants our cups to be filled with the water of His will and design. This is something we don’t need to strive after. Jesus died that we should be free of stressful striving. We only need to trust and abide in Him and be controlled by the Holy Spirit.

We don’t have to strive to be good before God. He only asks that we abide in the source of the river of living water—the fountain and the one true source of grace and mercy, which is His love. Your cups will then be filled even to overflowing as you are watered from the fountain. No stress or striving… just abiding.

It can be a lifetime process to let go of our controlling desires. It begins on our knees to confess and be still before a gracious and loving God, whose yoke is easy and whose burden is light.