Here's the secret if you're struggling to regain control of your life

Sometimes our problems seem to take on a life of their own, and our attempts to regain control seem futile.

Many singles feel this way, so you're not alone. If things seem to be spinning out of control, know that there is a way back, but often we're too intimidated by the seeming hopelessness of our situation to believe it.

Jesus' apostles got into just such a situation. Let's see how that applies to your life.

The solution was always there

One day Jesus and his apostles were sailing across the Sea of Galilee. The unusual weather patterns near that large lake makes it possible for storms to blow up suddenly and without warning. That's just what happened that day.

The wind was raging, waves were swamping the boat, and Jesus lay on a cushion, sound asleep! The disciples used all their sailing experience to try to regain control of the boat. But nothing worked. They woke Jesus, pleading that they were all going to drown.

He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm. "Where is your faith?" he asked his disciples. (Luke 8:24-25)

What would faith have to do with it? How would that have made any difference?

What we all overlook

In their panic, the disciples seemed to forget that Jesus was with them. If they drowned, he would drown too, and that would have ruined his mission on earth.

We overlook that too when we can't regain control. If you have Jesus with you--and you do, through the presence of the Holy Spirit--your boat is never going to sink, no matter how out of control things look. Even if you should die, and that's an extremely small possibility in most situations, Jesus is still in control, and he won't let go of you.

Your faith in God releases his power in your life, which is stronger than any storm that assaults you.

You can't believe your eyes

Sometimes you can't believe what you see, what you feel, or what you hear. You have to ignore the "waves and wind" and believe that the loving hand of God will regain control of the situation. I found that out in 1976 when I was taking radiation therapy for cancer treatment.

Every day the treatment made me extremely sick, causing hours of vomiting or diarrhea. I got so weak I could hardly stand up. But I couldn't be tricked by the way I felt. I had people praying for me, and I had faith that God had more work for me to do for him in my life.

I focused on Jesus. I kept my eye on him instead of the storm. My faith was rewarded. Through God's grace, I beat cancer and it never came back.

Regain control of your emotions

God is always in control of your situation. What you need to do is regain control of your feelings. Panic and anxiety are normal when you're under a lot of stress, but through faith in God you can overcome them.

When you surrender to God, you're turning control over to Someone who's a "professional" at straightening out messes. He knows exactly what to do and when to do it, just as Jesus calmed the storm from the boat.

Surrendering to God isn't giving up and accepting defeat. It's merely transferring control to someone who has the power to work miracles. We singles think we can do that from time to time, but we have to learn from painful experience that we can't.

Christianity is a faith of contradictions. When you give up control, you'll regain control.

The storm in your life doesn't have to swamp you. You know what to do. Give God a chance to calm things down. He'll get you safely to shore.

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