1 Unless the LORD builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain. 2 It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep.

Psalm 127:1-2 (ESV)

How did you sleep last night?  Please don’t say “like a baby”.  Babies are up every two hours, crying and hungry.

I hope you slept well and, whether you did or not, I pray you sleep well tonight.

I’m not sue what’s keeping you up at night.  Maybe it’s worries about life: family, home, job.  Maybe it’s uncertainty about the future.  Perhaps you’re facing a problematic situation and just don’t know how to approach it.  Whatever is giving you anxiety, you need to remember this: God is in control.

If you are a control freak like me, let met sum it up like this:

1. God is in control.

2. You are not God.  Ergo… (you connect the dots).

We worry about so much in life and let so many details hog tie us in knots we can’t seem to undo.  Junk from the past, stuff going on now, things that haven’t happened yet (and most likely never will)… this stuff all robs us of our joy, our peace, our rest.

But what if… what if we could realize that God loves us.

What if we could grasp that His grace is sufficient fo our every circumstance, our very lives.

What if we could understand that we don’t have to earn forgiveness or love.  God loves us because God is love and love bears no grudges or ill will.

What if we could let go of the need to control every little iota of our lives and let God run the show.  He is anyway.

I used to tease my friend’s son Levi when he was about ten.  I’d hold out my car keys and ask if he wants to drive.  “Really?!” he said.  “Absolutely.  As long as you can reach the peddles.”

He couldn’t.

And, honestly, neither can we.  This life is too big, too intricate, too much for us to drive on our own.

So, here’s what I want you to do.  The next time you’re anxious, or worried, or doubtful, stop. Pray.  Remember that God has it all under control, no matter how scary or unpleasant or painful things seem.  Quit trying to take the keys from God.  He’s not your co-pilot.  You aren’t qualified or licensed.

Trust God.  Stop toiling.  Rest in Him and sleep easy.

And, by the way, th day did come when Levi turned 16 and could reach the peddles.

I still didn’t give him the keys.