As a woman, I find myself in what I fondly call, “Analysis Paralysis” on a regular basis. I fondly call it that, but I do not fondly think of it that way. My mind plays it out like this, “On one hand, this seems really good, but on the other hand, this might be awful. One on hand this might be a blessing, but on the other hand,  it might be the absolutely worse thing that could happen.” Come on, don’t squish your face in confusion; you play this messed up game too. We all do to some degree from time to time and it can be quiet maddening.

I can give you an example that I have been convicted of recently. I am praying about a situation- it might be a lost loved one, a health crisis, or a need in my life. As I am diligently praying and seeking God about the situation, I start to see some movement, but it’s not the kind of movement I am wanting to see. What if I am praying for the lost ones to know Christ, but their world starts to fall apart? What if I am praying for healing and the reports come in worse that what I had planned? What if where there was a deep need, there is now a deeper cavity of lack. On one hand, I feel discouraged, unheard, and hopeless. My flesh screams out that God doesn’t hear me and my prayers must bounce off the ceiling and puddle in the floor of despair, but on the other hand…

What if the God who created me and promises to never leave or forsake me knows more than I do? What if the story that I feel is the end is simply the beginning of an eternal story I have yet to read? What if the thing that I feel is destroying me is the answer I have been praying for, packaged in a way that I don’t recognize yet?

Here is the good news and the challenge for all of us who have asked Jesus to be our Lord and Savior- it should never be in your hands. The worries we have should be laid in His all-knowing, all powerful, all trusting hands. He knows what we need, way more than we do. I get asked frequently if I can explain why God has allowed the terribly difficult things that invade our lives. I sit with the hurting and broken daily and I have this hope and assurance: God will make beauty from the ashes if we will trust Him. God never promised us that we would not have ashes and that the ashes would not be incredibly painful. He promised to make something beautiful when it feels like nothing remains.

I believe what Psalm 149:4 reminds us of, “For the LORD takes pleasure in His people; He will beautify the afflicted ones with salvation.”

Today, I want to challenge myself, as well as you, to stop the “on one hand, on the other hand” game of insanity. I want to fully give both of my hands in complete sacrifice and obedience to Jesus, especially when I don’t understand. Today I want to lay my burdens in the hands of THE Hands that promise to carry me and to fully live in the promises of His Word. He created me and He is worthy of my trust. Will you trust Him today?

Courtnay Aycock