Scared Of The UnknownSample

By Jeff Jackson

I’m a dad of two boys and I love those little guys with all my heart. When my oldest was born, he almost didn’t make it though. I clearly remember the moments in the hospital when things felt out of control. I was scared my world would never be the same.

When life is out of control, our natural reaction is to try to take control. We strive to preserve what we care about the most. 

Years later, I saw something I didn’t like in myself. I had thoughts of something terrible happening to my boys. If Luke ran through the house, I imagined him cracking his head on the kitchen table. If Bennett jumped on the couch, I imagined him falling and breaking his arm. Because I love my boys I had to stop them, and if they didn’t stop right away I would yell. 

I wrestled with these negative thoughts and they drove me to some ugly behaviors. In my love for my boys, my effort to protect them actually damaged our relationship. 

I had to learn that trying to maintain control was useless because I couldn’t control most of life anyway. God, who is in control, has brought me this far and will continue to carry me. This is exactly what Jesus is talking about in the Sermon on the Mount. 

This wasn’t easy. The first step was identifying the negative thought. Then, I asked myself these questions:

· What are the odds of this actually happening?

· What is a more likely outcome?

· If it does happen, what will I do?

· Will I be okay?

These simple questions helped me recognize how irrational my negative thoughts could be, to stop trying to control things I couldn’t control, and to trust that God is in control. 

Questions for Reflection: 

· Are there any negative thoughts that drive you toward ugly or counter-productive behaviors?

· What would it look like for you to stop trying to control outcomes and instead recognize that God is in control in this area?