I’m not sure about you, but I know I go through seasons where I feel like I’m just spinning in circles—where I feel like I just keep hitting a brick wall. The reality is, we’re all human and we’re all susceptible to failure. And over the years I’ve discovered a few practices to help turn things around.
First, we have to admit that what we’re doing isn’t working. As a father, I’ve watched numerous animated movies over the years when my kids were young. And I remember a scene from the “Bee Movie” where the main character, a bee, tries to get out of a house by flying right through a closed window. He obviously didn’t know what glass was and kept smacking into it again and again. And each time he would say, “Maybe, this time!” Only to smack into the glass once again.
I think this is a great analogy of all of us at times, when we keep trying the same thing over and over again to no avail. We have to stop doing the same thing and expecting different results. I believe that’s what Albert Einstein referred to as insanity. If we want to turn things around, we have to admit that what we’re doing isn’t working.
Then the second step is to relinquish control. I’m sure most of us have heard the old Carrie Underwood song “Jesus Take the Wheel”. I know I often joke about that song and sing it loud and off key trying to be funny, but that’s what all of us really need to do. We need to admit that what we’re doing isn’t working and let Jesus take the wheel. Because Jesus is the one that actually turns things around.
And then the final step as we give God control is OBEDIENCE. God created us, He knows us better than we know ourselves. David tells us in Psalm 139:13 – For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. God knew us before we were ever born and He has a plan for each of our lives. And if we want to turn things around we have to be willing to obey His commands.
God wants to see us succeed. He wants to help us navigate the ups and downs and challenges this life brings. And when we find ourselves smacking into the glass, we must give God control and walk in obedience because that’s how we’re able to turn things around.
thesimplemindedpastor.com 