I woke up the other morning with thoughts of letting go while at the same time holding on. As I lay in bed, I began to talk to God. Keep in mind the conversation was one-sided until I paused. God used the pause as an opening to show me what it looks like to be me.
Let me just clear my throat here. I’m perfectly content to pour out my heart to God, but when He returns the favor… well? I’m still processing.
I am a closet control freak. There is a part of me that loves details and a bigger part that wants the plan laid out in chronological order with contingencies for what to do if the plan derails. I hold on so tight somedays that I wonder at the end of the day why I am so tense.
If you visit here often or are new to this lovely community, I shared since January that this is my year of surrender. God knows this too and is quick to provide opportunities to learn this lesson. All I can say is that this year has been one of the best and one of the hardest. My life looks like a volleyball game. Set, hit, slam, serve and start all over again.
When I was lost in my thoughts the other morning, God began to teach me how far I’ve come and how far I need to go to grasp the truth of His promises. The bottom line is that God is willing to join me on the other side of the net as we volley back and forth. But He holds the gift of what it looks like to step out of the game to live a different life than what I’ve always known.
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The Lord confides in those who fear him;
he makes his covenant known to them.
My eyes are ever on the Lord,
for only he will release my feet from the snare. Psalm 25:14-15
What Volleyball Taught Me
God never drops the ball. He catches our joy, distress, grief, frustration, and stress and guards it with His love and grace.
As I serve the ball, God is cheering me on with words like “good job”, “you can do this”, and “way to let go”. God is always on the other side of the net reminding us of our worth, gifts, and enough-ness.
It’s okay to miss the ball. I actually played a little volleyball in my younger days. Trust me there were more times than not I missed the ball. God still loves you and me when this happens. It’s part of our imperfect humanness and it’s exactly how God designed us.
When the ball is released, God is in control of where it goes. Just like with our lives, God is present and in control 24/7. There is nothing He doesn’t know about us. The details that I am so concerned about are ones that God cares about more than I ever will.
Just reading through the lessons above, frees up space in my controlling nature. What I know is if God cares more about it than I do, than the process of surrendering is in the best Hands possible. How does this make you feel?
A way that looks like working from a place of peace and rest. The hard work we believe is needed to achieve everything instead looks like trust in God.
Jennifer Dukes Lee, in her soon-to-be-released book, It’s All Under Control, says it like this:
I read once that surrender is what happens when God hands you a blank piece of paper with a space for you to sign your name at the bottom and then hand it back to him to fill in as he wills. Talk about frightening!
Wow! I don’t know about you, but those words preach. So today let’s reflect on what it looks like to sign our life away to God knowing that even though the thought is frightening, He is in control. Will you step out of the volleyball game with me and look at life through new eyes instead of the same old, same old?
Blessings,
P.S. Jennifer Dukes Lee book is exactly what I need in my current life. She writes from a place of knowing because she is/was a control freak just like me! 🙂 It’s All Under Control releases on September 18 along with a 6-week Bible study. You can preorder HERE and then head HERE to grab your preorder bonuses.
Photo by Benjamin Voros on Unsplash
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So many places we can go with your ball analogy! Thanks for the lessons, Mary. I’m grateful that the game doesn’t depend on my own skills. We’d all be in trouble. 🙂
I agree! I think sports analogies lend themselves to a many life lessons. And of course I am also grateful the game doesn’t depend on me. Thank you for joining in the conversation.
I couldn’t wait to read this from the title! I played vball back in the day and now have the pleasure of watching my daughter. You drew some great parallels! Its comforting to know that regardless of whether we sign it over to Him, He is in control anyway. But if we cooperate with Him, we will find a lot more peace. laurensparks.net
I am stirring up some old volleyball memories with this post. I never played competitively, but my younger son did. It is so reassuring to know God is in control no matter what. I imagine seeing your daughter play volleyball is so much fun. Thank you for being here and joining in the conversation.
Hi, Mary! I am so glad I saw your post! I was a volleyball player and now coach the game… what great insight you bring here! I am also a recovering control freak and the following principle spoke the loudest to me: “When the ball is released, God is in control of where it goes.” I will actually forward this to my team, as we have not been having a great season this year 🙂
Blessings to you!
Thank you, Patricia, for these kind words. I have always loved being in control and God knows this. He is so patient with me as I learn to release the ball to Him even when I am not sure of the outcome. I am praying things turn around for your volleyball team.
Mary, I loved this post. I also loved playing league volleyball through my church in my high school years. And I even played doubles with a guy. We weren’t great, but it sure was fun.
Your thoughts here are spot on. I love how you compared volleyball to our relationships with God. And thank goodness for His grace when we drop the ball or mess up the serve!
It sounds like you are more of a volleyball expert than me. It’s funny I played in a church league too. I think sports analogies are easier for me to understand having grown up with four brothers and having two sons. I am loving how God used this post to get my own attention and how I am living my life.
Jennifer’s book sounds great 🙂 I am loving all her quotes I see on social. I was sad I missed out on the opportunity to be on her launch team – but I was a tad busy with my own at the time. Thanks also for the linkup 🙂
You can’t do everything dear friend, but just know Jennifer’s book will be available when you have a chance to read again! You are welcome for the linkup and I am blessed to have you here.
So good! I am going to have to read that book.
Jennifer’s book is a good one. I just love her writing. I love seeing you here today.
Mary, i LOVE this post and your wonderfully illustrative analogy with volleyball! When I pray, I picture Jesus, my Shepherd, in the green pasture of the 23rd Psalm. I take whatever concern I have, or person for whom I am interceding by the hand, and I walk out to the meadow, the green pasture, and I place my concern, or the hand of the person for whom I am interceding, in Jesus’ hand…knowing that He is sovereign, He loves me, and He loves the person for whom I am interceding more than I do. He has a plan, a hope, and a future for each of us…and I walk away, thanking God for how He is working in my life and in the lives of those for whom I am interceding, experiencing a feeling of peace, as Catherine Marshall prayed, “Lord, I trust You…You know what You’re doing…I relinquish my will to Yours.”
Thank you for this beautiful comment. I love how you picture Jesus as the Shepherd in Psalm 23. And relinquishing our will to God is a wonderful way to describe surrender. I’m blessed to have you share your thoughts here and join in the conversation.
How does it make me feel to know I’m surrendering to the best Hands possible? Honestly, it’s a relief. God is in control even when my own controlling nature is not. And He’s there cheering me on in the good and bad times that are sure to come. Thank you for sharing these wonderful truths about God with us today. Blessings!
Yes, God is on control even when my controlling nature is not. That will preach. And that describes me. God is so patient and gracious with us. I’m blessed to have you here, Connie!
Amen to working from a place of peace and rest. We may not know where He’ll lead when we follow Him, but there’s no other way to do life successfully. Thanks for this reminder, Mary. Blessings to you.
Yes! We need to re-interpret what rest is. It is not just a slowing down and taking things off of your plate. Rest is when your body, mind, and soul are working in sync. Jennifer explains this in her book too. Thank you for being here, Boma, and joining in the conversation.
This post reminds me of what God was trying to teach me this morning in my Bible study time. I’m reading through Luke and was at the point when Peter’s first “blow it” moment came into view in chapter 5. Peter wasn’t sure if Jesus knew what He was talking about when He told him to put his boat out into the water for a catch, after Peter had been fishing all night and hadn’t caught a single fish. But Jesus was so gracious to Peter–giving him two boatloads of fish, after clearly doubting Him as his Savior. I want to remember that God is gracious even after I’ve blown it too, Mary! And I love the idea of surrender that Jennifer shared in her book. Sounds like a great read that I need as well!
I love knowing how God is teaching you in your Bible study time. I am like Peter more than I care to admit. I know I blow it but God patiently pulls me back to Him time and time again. It is such an amazing gift. And you should add Jennifer’s book to your to read list. It is not only teaching me about surrender but reminding me in a gentle way what this can look like in my own life.
That is a terrifying thought, to sign over to God a blank check for our lives. It shouldn’t be – we know He will give us grace. But His paths call for self-denial and carrying crosses, and we know that will be hard. But He carried one for us. I pray I can trust Him for whatever He requires. I rejoice that He promises His presence and strength for every step of the way.
I know! It is extremely terrifying but it puts surrender into God’s perspective for me. I pray I trust God for whatever He asks of me too. May we all know our strength is in God every step of the way.
I love these lessons from volleyball, Mary. I am especially encouraged by how God never drops the ball and He is always in control of our every released or missed ball. Thank you for this encouragement! Love and hugs to you!
Hi Trudy! It’s good to see you here today. I know I am thankful that God is in control. I can easily mess things up when I am on my own.
I like the way you did that. Volleyball. Good job, Mary G.
Thank you, Susan! I love how God provides the analogy and provides a way to run with it.
Jennifer’s title really intrigues me! Mary, I love your volleyball wisdom, especially this: “It’s okay to miss the ball.” So many times, I’m tempted to stay out of the game because I’m worried I’ll miss the ball, but if I do, I don’t make any hits either! 🙂
Jennifer’s book is practical, insightful, and vulnerable. She writes in a way that you find yourself nodding your head along with her words. It’s interesting that you actually find yourself staying out of the game because of the thought of not doing it right (hitting the ball). I looked at it for the perspective of staying in the game because it’s a comfortable place to be. Now I need to think about the analogy differently.
Control is an ongoing battle for me too! It’s easy to cling on even though I know that God knows best and that he has plans greater than our own could ever be. Having said that, I have managed to let go of something this week and surrender it without knowing how it will turn out so I’m encouraged by the reminder that “When the ball is released, God is in control of where it goes.”
I am thankful I am not alone in this journey to let go of control. I am cheering you on from here that you surrendered something. I pray you find yourself blessed more than you can imagine by this decision. God is in control and I am grateful for that truth.
Dear Mary,
I am so thankful for the ways that you always share your honest heart with us here! And the photos that you share from your walks, help me to feel God’s presence right here also. But your thoughts about being willing to step out of the game, and go deeper with surrender, are just so true. He continues to show me that there is always more to give over to Him, more to let go of, more fullness of HIS heart to find there. Thank you for the sweet encouragement you have brought today. Blessings to you!
I am grateful for your visits each week. It seems I cannot walk without taking some pictures along the way. But the lesson of stepping out of the game to live life differently and perhaps uncomfortable is one that I continue to learn everyday. Only God asks us to do more than we think we are capable of. And only God asks us to surrender not knowing what the outcome will be.
I’m with Lynn. Volleyball terrified me. Like most other sports.
But I’m hearing your message loud and clear, Mary. And it gives me great comfort.
Peace …
Trust me volleyball was a minor foray of mine into sports. I probably ducked more times than tried to hit the ball. I’m glad the message came through. I pray it makes a difference in how we play this game of life.
I was absolutely terrible at volley ball. That ball would scare me or it would hurt when I took my chance to volley it! It’s comforting to know there is nothing that God does not know about us, even the sports we might play! But I think what’s comforting the most to me is that even when I think no one ‘gets me,’ He does. And His plans are perfect! Your word has led to insights about surrendering to many Mary!
I dabbled in volleyball, but this the analogy God gave me. I find it comforting to know that His presence is all we need and He never takes that away from us. We just need to recognize He is there even in the moments when we drop the ball.
I’m really looking forward to reading Jennifer’s book–but also understanding that I’m going to be meddled with in the process! And your thoughts on the pause that gave God a chance to get a word in edgewise were especially convicting to me this morning.
So thank you, Mary, for writing real and relevant today!
Yes, if you read a book about control you can bet you are going to have circumstances that are out of your control. And yes, God convicted me when I came up for air. Whew! He has a way of doing that, doesn’t He??