Throw Your Hands Up

There is profound power in learning to give up control. Control may feel comfortable, safe and easy, but life will still be unpredictable. For instance, when you take off on a wave, you are ultimately allowing the ocean to dictate whether you get an insane ride, or get completely wrecked. We can calculate the perfect timing of the wave, we can position ourselves exactly where the ideal take off spot is, and we can make sure we’re riding the right board, but even with all of that, gnarly wipeouts still occur. Even to the pros! But what can we do when we experience life’s “wipeouts”?

Jesus says: “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.””

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭11‬:‭28‬-‭30‬

I live on Maui and due to the tragedy that just swept across the island with the fires, there’s a lot of control that was torn out of thousands of people’s hands. Many lost family members, their entire possessions, jobs, and any sort of stability in just one night. When life unexpectedly wipes us out, we have a decision to make. We can hang on tightly, trying to make everything better, or we can throw up our hands, allow the Lord to share our burden, and give it to Him. No matter how perfectly you may plan out your life, the fires on Maui were a reminder to all of us that some things are just not in our control. It is also important to recognize that God doesn’t say “I will take your burden away completely” but He promises to share our burdens and lighten the load as our partner, which results in growth. God’s way may feel harder, but the promise is that He will provide rest, peace, and comfort in the storm. So next time you feel a weight in your shoulders, or experience an unexpected “wipeout”, remember the words of Jesus in Matthew and the promise of His partnership in difficult times!

Image: Emily Benedetto