Scribbles

“Check mate.” I’ve never actually been able to say that. I’ve never been able to masterfully control all the moves I make and come out with a satisfied victory sealed with that satisfied expression. That satisfied smirk. I guess it very well could be that I suck at chess. I never did like the game…too many different pieces that move in too many different directions. I don’t know what a rook is let alone a bishop. Plus, you have to count when you move the horse, so…no thanks. The problem with chess is you have to think too much. You have to think five moves ahead in order to come out on top. You have to control every little piece, every little move you make…if not, you lose and the guy across the board from you smirks that satisfied smirk. “Check mate.”

Our lives can be a lot like a game of chess…too many different pieces, or issues, that we try to move in too many different directions. We worry about the move that’s five moves ahead and try to control every little issue, every little move we make. If the boy breaks up with her, she has to call eight times so he knows how much she cares…if he doesn’t answer, she better go knock on his door. If he takes this job now, and works for two years there, then he can get this job here, and go there, where he can work for another twenty years and retire. Sounds like a lot of worrying for a twenty year old “he”.

When we worry ourselves with every little move we rarely come out on top. When we try to control everything in our lives we usually end up stumbling, spilling our pieces all over the board. So, why do we try? Why do we worry ourselves with trying to control all our situations, to move all our pieces? Wouldn’t it be nice to let someone else take control?

I have a friend who writes all her worries on a piece of paper and puts them in a box. It’s her way of giving her issues to God, and letting Him take control. He has control anyways, so why try to fight it? We might as well relax and enjoy the amazing path He has set out for us. God’s will has been set in motion. Who are we to argue?

Everyone has their anxious moments, the moments they feel they have to do something. They have to make a move so it ends up the way they want it. The way they think it should be. Sometimes it’s after a break up; sometimes it’s guiding a career. Sometimes it’s every once in a while; sometimes it’s all the time.

Whenever it is; whatever it is, I encourage you to let Him move the pieces. In times when you feel you need to have the most control, hand control to God and let him run with it. In Romans 12:2 it says, “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” If we can remember this, we can remain calm when our emotions tell us to act otherwise. If we let God put His will into motion, we can come out on top. In the end He will guide us to a satisfied victory. From there it’s up to us to seal it with that satisfied expression. That satisfied smirk. “Check mate.”