We've Been Lied To.

We live in a time when it feels like every possibility is at our fingertips. Disney tells us if we can dream it, we can achieve it. The job culture tells us if we buckle down and learn, work hard, and make the right friends we can be successful. Popular authors and pep talk speakers tell us that we can change the world. Positive thinking gurus tell us if we just block out negative thoughts and attitudes, all will go right in our lives.

In short: there is always something that you can do to change your situation for the better.

Now, forgive me for sounding all "bah, humbug!" for a second, but I disagree.

While in a lot of situations we do have the ability to influence the outcome, we don't have quite as much power as we've been taught to believe.

We can't force the weather to be perfect for that outdoor wedding. We can't obliterate chronic illness. We can't help it when the company suddenly can't afford half their staff and must lay people off. We can't stop the drunk driver who hits us out of nowhere. Heck, we can't even fully control if our night of sleep is any good.

I know there are a lot of things we are capable influencing, but I also know that there are a lot of things that are completely out of our control, no matter how far ahead we plan and how hard we try. Sometimes, literally the only thing we can do is pray. That's hard. It hurts to know I can't always help what's going on. It's difficult sometimes to accept that we lack any power and then surrender the situation to God. It's hard to realize that sometimes God's plans and timing don't line up with our ideals.

It is difficult to follow Philippians 4:6-7, which tells us "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."