Loosen your Grip

For someone like me- a perfectionist with big dreams and a set plan- it's certainly not fun when your plans get tossed around a bit. Confusion isn't enjoyable for me, likewise most people I'd assume. Not knowing your next move when you're someone who likes things planned five steps ahead- not enjoyable either. Being in this crazy stage of life where I have basically no idea what I'm doing with myself and everyone places it upon you to have life figured out... its safe to say I'm not a happy camper about it. And quite honestly, if you asked any of my friends or family, they'd vouch for me that the slightest hint at the subject causes me to go off on a rant. Why? Not because I'm mad. Ok, maybe a little frustrated- who wouldn't be? But the reason it gets me so worked up is because its something that worries me. And to be blunt about it, in other words its because I've taken my future out of God's hands and tried to control it myself.
How insulting is it really for me to tell God he can't handle it all on His own? The same God who created the Heavens and Earth, who can part the sea, and who can raise the dead- why is it that I believe He can handle all of that, but help me figure out what school to go to or what career to try... woah woah let's not get too crazy! I mean seriously, why on earth do I think I have better hands to hold my future than the One who created and perfected it? As much as I like to have control over things, I have to admit God is in a much better position to handle this than I am. I need to step back and as C.S. Lewis would say "give in and admit that God is God."
What I've found personally is that its easy to tell other people- even yourself- to just have faith. That God will make everything work out in the end. Trust in God. BUT WHAT ABOUT ME? What about my part? Sure God doesn't need my help to complete his plan, but what if I'm supposed to have a part in making this all happen? I can't expect God to just hand me anything, right? Its extremely easy to let the words faith and trust flow right out of your mouth but its a completely different thing to follow those truths during your own struggles. I heard it said recently that trusting God with your worries doesn't call for lack of action. It doesn't call for laziness and a sense of entitlement from God, rather the ability to know when you've done your part and the rest is up to God. Basically, put the power back into God's hands. If you put faith in only yourself, you might as well just prepare yourself for a let down. Stop trying to be God. Allow Him do His job for once, and let Him show you how great He is at it. No matter how much control we think we may have over ourselves and our situations, God has far better things in store for us beyond our wildest imagination. But we'll never see them come to life if we don't give God the chance to act.
No matter how hard we try, if its not in God's plans for us, it won't prevail. And no matter what I do, God is going to lead me exactly where I'm meant to be. But its hard to see that when the future is blurry and nothing is as clear as it used to be when life was completely in your control. Trusting your life to God calls for you to loosen your grip, but how assuring is it to know that your life is in the hands of the Creator?