Seeing the Whole Picture

I'm not sure if any of you are like me, but it was extremely hard for me to let go and to truly give all of this to God.  And, I knew, I saw how He could do amazing things, but it was still so difficult to truly give it all to Him...I mean all 100% to Him.  I still wanted to hold onto some of it.

It's kind of like saying... "God, I know you have this.  But, just in case You need me, I'll keep a little of it.  I'm sure I can help You somehow.  Let me keep this part."

Think about it.  Would you really ever say that to God?  "Don't worry, God, I got this!"

No way!  But, in our brokenness, in our hurt, in our pain, we think we need to hold on.  And, that is precisely when and where we need to let go.

I heard a song that truly brings all of this full circle.  And now, when I am having a rough day letting go, I sing it to myself.  Or, if I'm in the car by myself, I turn it up and sing it out loud!

I'm not sure how to cite this, so forgive me if I am doing this wrong.  The song is by Casting Crowns, on the Come to the Well album, titled "Already There"  Here are most of the lyrics:

Verse 1:

From where I'm standing, 

Lord, it's so hard for me to see

Where this is going; 

And where you're leading me.

I wish I knew how 

All my fears and all my questions

Are going to play out

In a world I can't control

Chorus:

When I'm lost in the mystery

To You my future is a memory

'Cause You're already there

You're already there

Standing at the end of my life

Waiting on the other side

And You're already there

You're already there

Verse 2:

From where You're standing

Lord, You see a grand design

That You imagined

When You breathed me into life

And all the chaos

Comes together in Your hands 

Like a masterpiece

Of Your picture-perfect plan

Chorus

Verse 3:

One day I'll stand before You

And look back on the life I've lived

I can't wait to enjoy the view 

And see how all the pieces fit

After reading (or listening to or singing) that, how can I hold onto any of it?  This is His plan.  One day, I will stand before Him and look back on all the places He put me to make me the person He needed.

Think about this.  When people say that "God has a plan" I think we believe that God has a plan for "those people" but not for me.  He doesn't have a plan for me.  

Genesis and the Story of Joseph:  

I can only imagine what Joseph was thinking when he was imprisoned because Potiphar's wife lied about their interaction. He went from having everything to seemingly having nothing.  Down in that prison, did Joseph still believe that his siblings would one day be bowing down to him?  I'm not sure.  But, God knew exactly where Joseph needed to be.  God didn't leave him; He was with him the entire time.  He was setting up the plan to put Joseph where he needed to be.  

And, God's picture-perfect plan came true!  Maybe not the way you and I would have planned it, maybe not in our time or according to our wishes.  Because it's not our plan, it's God's plan.