CONTROL

Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. Psalm 139:23-24, NIV

We were early in the process of building our house in September 2008 when the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 777.68 points. This was the largest single-day loss in Dow Jones history up until that point. As a result, we carried two mortgages for the better part of the year that it took to sell our home.

Many nights, I would wake up suddenly, gripped with fear that we were going to lose everything. The anxiety I carried was oppressive and I felt like I could barely breathe.

One night, the story of Peter and the fish came to my mind. I grabbed my Bible and located it in Matthew 17:27. I thought, If Jesus could provide a coin in the mouth of a fish to pay the taxes, why would I think that He couldn’t provide for me?

From that point on, when anxious thoughts would start to fill my mind, I used scripture to turn them off. I clung to the promise that God will provide for my needs, and I found comfort in reading the Psalms as well.

We live in unprecedented times that can easily expose shaky foundations. When trouble comes, we realize how little control we really have. We don’t have control over whatever is happening around us, but we can control how we respond to it. We have a choice: we can choose to give in to our anxious thoughts and what-ifs, or we can choose to keep our eyes fixed on the One who has proven to be faithful. I choose the latter!

Dear Lord, today I praise You for You are both omniscient and omnipresent. When I begin to worry, may I turn my anxious thoughts to You. You are all-knowing and ever-present, Lord. Amen.

Copyright by Doreen Madere.

Prior to her retirement in December of 2022, Doreen served as the Christian Educators Director of Membership Services and as Editorial Director for Teachers of Vision magazine.

Are you looking for a way to encourage others?

Do you have questions or want to connect with the author?

Were you inspired by this devotion?

Teachers of Vision is a digital and printed magazine that is for teachers and written by teachers to encourage and equip the educational community.

The Power of His Presence in My Classroom

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

CE Summer Bible Study

Thanks for your interest in joining us as we read through the New Testament with our fellow Christian educators this summer!