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| this is the view out my kitchen window most evenings. |
Control.
There’s a sort of beautiful, wickedly deceptive comfort in feeling like we’re in control, isn’t there?
Beautiful because being in control makes us feel accomplished, powerful, on top of the world.
Wickedly deceptive because of our willful ignorance to the fact that in most cases, control is but a clever illusion.
Sometimes…oftentimes I find myself in the midst of wrestling with this paradox:
I must give up control. And yet, I’m not really in control.
A paradox, to be sure.
I must give up control.
I like to feel like I’m in control. So much so that when I find myself in a situation where someone else is in control, I stress and worry and generally freak out. If I’m being totally honest, I silently question their competency, sometimes evaluating how I would do things differently. Yes…I like to be in control.
But I’m not really in control.
It’s a truth of which I’m keenly and painfully aware. Last night, as I was reading the Word, I happened across Psalms 16:5-6.
Lord, You are my portion
and my cup of blessing;
You hold my future.
and my cup of blessing;
You hold my future.
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Advice
Q & A with my sponsors
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| Meet Ashley on twitter |
RDD: What advice would you offer to a brand new blogger/business owner?
I racked my brain for something that I don’t see everywhere because being yourself (which is what I see everywhere) doesn’t guarantee success. So the one piece of advice I would give to a new blogger or business owner is to meet a need. Even if it’s a small need, find a way to use your strengths to meet that need of your targeted audience. Know your strengths, know who would benefit from your strengths (these people become your target audience), know what they’re missing (this becomes their need), and know how to take your strength to fulfill what they are missing (your way to meet their need.) By doing this, you become an important figure in their life – not just another blog or business.
- Ashley, The Gnarly Whale
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I needed to read that passage of Scripture more than you know tonight, sweet friend. Thank you for posting this. <3 (tears are flowing)
This is definitely a reminder I need. When I find myself grasping for control, I need the Lord to lovingly tell me – you were never in control anyway! Let me lead you, because I wrote the future.
This is such great wisdom Amanda. I think I need to re-read this post a few times.
Those verses are exactly what my heart needed this morning
Love it 
This week I felt like I couldn’t control a single thing that was taking place….oh the energy I wasted trying to! Today I’m putting that energy into placing each worry into His arms 
Love you girl! Thanks for sharing this with us!
I remember having discussions about “control issues” when you were a kid! It is such a comfortable illusion, isn’t it?
I think this post is a perfect example on how to get through those times when we KNOW we’re not in control and that is, focus on the good.
That’s what you did with your kitchen window photos. You snapped the incredibly good and beautiful – and didn’t focus on what you don’t like!
Love you!
You read my mind – I am a total control freak and can end up in a bit of a mess if I can’t control things!
Sarah @ A Cat-Like Curiosity