It’s funny how everyday concepts can help give understanding to spiritual matters from the Bible. Take a skeleton key for example. When you have a skeleton key it allows you to open many different locks with the same key. It’s kinda the one to rule them all. So what does this have to do with spiritual concepts?
Well, have you ever experienced frustration with things going on in the world, or your own life? Or felt overwhelmed with trying to figure out the right thing to do in a tough situation? Have you wished something (or someone) would change? Or maybe you’ve been anxious about the future in general?
We probably all have at some time or another. There’s so much we can’t control and can’t understand or predict, and uncertainty can creep in and bring fear, hopelessness, and all kinds of negative emotions. But even if we aren’t in control and don’t understand or know what to expect, we can still have certainty.
The key is you have to learn that God is in charge of everything! (excerpt from Learning to Love in the Hard Places pt.2, by Dr. Chester C. Pipkin Jr.)
That is the key for every situation! It takes humility and faith, but it’s like a skeleton key: it opens up victory in every area of our lives. You see, we don’t need to put confidence in our own comprehension or ability to predict or control circumstances and outcomes. We can trust in God’s ability to do those things.
The scripture reminds us…
Yours, O LORD, is the greatness, the power, the glory, the victory, and the majesty. Everything in the heavens and on earth is yours, O LORD, and this is your kingdom. We adore you as the one who is over all things. Wealth and honor come from you alone, for you rule over everything. Power and might are in your hand, and at your discretion people are made great and given strength. (1 Chronicles 29:11-12 NLT)
When we really understand that nothing is outside of His sovereignty, and also that He is good, we can learn to be okay with not knowing or understanding things. Even things that, in and of themselves, really aren’t okay.
For example, let’s say I don’t know how to handle a conflict at my job or I don’t like what powerful people are doing in some situation (I’m sure you can think of an example.) When I let go of my need to control the scenario, and instead really trust that God is in control, it unlocks a peace and hope and confidence that I can’t generate with my own efforts. Then I can pray about the situation, with faith in God and His ability. (That’s the kind of prayer that has a real impact!) And when I’m no longer tied up in knots behind the situation I am in a better position to recognize what God is telling me to do (or not do.) So let’s put this into action and unlock all that God has for us by remembering that even when life feels out of control, God is always in control.
