One of the lessons I learned in my episodes of fainting is that I am not in control. Whatever physiological processes were happening, my body took over and the part of me that thinks I am in control felt helpless. I couldn’t reason my body to do what I wanted. What else am I not in control of?

Genesis 40 tells about 2 men who were also not in control of the events in their lives. They were thrown in prison by Pharaoh. I’ve never been in prison but many have. After they had been in custody for some time, each of the two men – the cupbearer and the baker of the king of Egypt, who were being held in prison – had a dream the same night, and each dream had a meaning of its own. When Joseph came to them the next morning, he saw that they were dejected. So he asked Pharaoh’s officials who were in custody with him in his master’s house, “Why do you look so sad today?” “We both had dreams,” they answered, “but there is no one to interpret them.” Then Joseph said to them, “Do not interpretations belong to God? Tell me your dreams.” v. 4-8.

Interpretations belong to God….not just of dreams. This morning in prayer I was troubled by so many events in this world of ours. God reminded me I am not in control. I’m not and it’s hard. I wish I could solve the hurt and anger I see everywhere. One of the reasons I share what I am learning and experiencing with God is because with Him leading me I’m never alone. He is so much bigger than what we give Him credit for being. We imagine that God is who we think He is.

Answer me when I call to you, my righteous God. Give me relief from my distress; have mercy on me and hear my prayer. How long will you people turn my glory into shame? How long will you love delusions and seek false gods? Psalm 4:1-2. That’s a question for each one of us. The book of Job is filled with questions and ideas of who Job and his 3 friends thought God was and what He was doing. Then the Lord spoke to Job out of the storm. He said: “Who is this that obscures my plans with words without knowledge? Brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer me. Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation? Tell me, if you understand. Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know! Who stretched a measuring line across it? On what were its footings set, or who laid its cornerstone – while the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy?” Job 38:1-7. A wonderful Chapter and so worth reading in its’ entirety. Job and each of his friends spoke what they believed to be true about God. He opened their understanding enough to realize they were not God.

I’m not in control. Joseph and the 2 officials were not in control. Joseph had the right of it when he said Do not interpretations belong to God? Let God be God. Let Him be in control because, truly, He is.