GOD IS IN CONTROL

Monday, June 29th, 2020, I was supposed to be back at college. Starting summer practice and taking a class. However, as y’all know, a lot of stuff was “supposed” to happen that didn’t these past couple of months. Which brings me to today’s topic…we are not in control. No matter how hard we try, we will never fully be in control.

I don’t want to seem unsympathetic to what has been happening in our world in 2020, but I do want to bring light and a different perspective to the situation. Let me start by saying everything is in God’s hands. 

***We've got to open our eyes to see what He is doing!

We normally don’t recognize God working in our lives, mainly because our eyes aren’t open to it, but also because He often uses very mundane tools to orchestrate His plan. Frequently, I see God using a friend to remind me of something. Or I’ll be scrolling through social media and will read a Bible verse at the perfect time. Other times, God will do something huge in my life and will answer a prayer I have been dutifully praying about for months...

STORY TIME :)

• My freshman year of high school, my family talked about moving from California (where I had spent 10 years,) to Austin, Texas where I knew only one family. Every time it was brought up I immediately started crying. I absolutely hated change. I even cried when my mom got a new car because I didn’t get to say goodbye to the other one. However, my parents told me to pray about moving instead of worrying. So, every night I would sit up in my bed and cry out to God, praying that he would change my attitude. A couple months went by and my heart switched from a red light to a green. No time for yellow. I went downstairs and told my parents that I wanted to move. I was excited about change, about an adventure. Nothing happened in California that made me feel this way; I had good friends, an awesome school, and great volleyball. But my heart felt at peace about moving, and I knew that it was in the Lord’s plan for my life. Looking back on that move, I am so very grateful. It prepared me for the real world. I learned how to deal with uncomfortable situations. I made some great friends. I got to live out my dreams in volleyball, and I wouldn’t trade that move for anything. 

• Fast forward a little while, I am now a junior in High School. I committed to play volleyball at Lipscomb, with no intention of having my parents there too. They were going to stay in Texas and I liked the idea of having a new state to myself. However, God had a different plan. A couple months after I committed, my dad got the head coaching job at Lipscomb Academy (the High School that is right next to my college.) My family didn’t even know there was a high school! To make it even cooler, the guy that called my dad didn’t know that I was committed to the university… it was obvious that this was God’s plan. So, my dad and mom sat me down, and explained the situation. My pops was going to have to leave that week to begin the job if he was going to take it. That means it would just be my mom and I for a year and a half in Austin. No dad for my senior year of volleyball games and festivities. Also, this meant that I couldn’t go into college and make a name for myself, my dad will have already been there for a while. People would know me as Coach Dilfer’s daughter. Although I knew the whole situation was going to be very difficult, without hesitation, I looked at my dad and said “go for it.” My only two demands were that he made sure to make it more than just football and to really change the boys’ lives, and that I got to be a part of it. I wanted to know everything that was going on in his life even though we were miles apart. After saying yes, my dad brought up graduating High School early and I was like noooo wayyyy. Oh how God laughs at our no’s. So, I prayed about it. Same thing, my heart completely changed and I wanted to graduate early so that my mom and I didn’t have to be apart from my dad for as long. 

• Those two big moments in my life stand out when I think about God’s plan, as well as one more that recently happened ;) but I think I'll save that story for another time! 

The point behind those stories is that God is in control. We might not always see Him working, but I promise you He is. Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” 

Something that I have struggled with, but have really been trying to do, is to surrender my future over to God and not to fear it. His way is wayyyy better than my way. This has given me so much peace because I know I can’t mess up what He is doing in my life. God blesses your obedience. When we take that leap of faith and trust what God is doing, He recognizes it and always rewards us in the end. If something doesn’t go as planned, then that’s not His plan! However, It is super important to remember this… 

• Trusting God’s plan doesn’t mean you get to stop working hard or trying. God wants us to work with all our heart at whatever we choose to do. However, if that goal or specific thing in our life doesn’t work out, do not fear, God has a different end to the situation. That doesn’t mean it was a waste, He will still use the other experience. 

Ever heard someone say “small world?” I believe that is because God intertwines everything together. He can use someone’s life in Australia to completely transform somebody’s life in Nashville. Through a camp where they met, through a sermon online, or maybe even through a zoom call. Today’s technology lets us do a whole lot.

I hope we can realize that God sees the WHOLE picture. 

“Even when we don’t feel it, He’s working.”

“Even when we don’t see it, He’s working.” 

SO MANY TIMES BEFORE, I have felt in a drought. I feel as if my prayers aren’t being heard and I’m just stuck struggling. Then time goes by, and I see how God worked during that dry season. 

That is why Proverbs 31:25 has become one of my life verses...

“She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.” I have come to know my life is in God’s hands. I can trust Him with my good and my bad and laugh at what is next! He is always going to work for the good of those who love him. 

SO, although this pandemic has completely altered our lives, I pray that we can believe God has a purpose for this madness. I hope that we are all praying for God to use this for His Kingdom. I pray that more people are coming to know the Lord because they have more time to seek Him right now. 

Although things are starting to go back to normal, I encourage y’all to take this extra bit of time to notice what God is doing in your life and surrender your future to Him. Keep your eyes peeled, He is always working!!! 

With all my love, Delaney Dilfer :)