Good Enough: So much is out of our control

“Blessed are we who discover we are loved and held in arms that are strong enough to hold that which we cannot.” (From Good Enough by Kate Bowler and Jessica Richie)

One of the tactics we use to be good enough (smart enough, rich enough, healthy enough, etc…) is to have as much control as possible. It is natural for us to want to influence and manage all aspects of our lives, but the reality is that so much is out or our control. We can’t really control other people: their feelings, their actions, their choices. We can’t really control the weather: if it snows, if it is -20C, if spring is very slow in arriving. The last two years of the pandemic have really made us realize how much is beyond our control.

As humans we are uncomfortable with chaos, with pain, with things not going the way we want. In the end, we can only do what we can actually do and accept what we cannot do, and know that it is good enough and that we are never alone. On the second Sunday of Lent, we turn to Jesus who understood the fear and frustration of the uncontrollable. As well, we consider our constant desire for control and it’s impact on our spiritual, mental, and physical well-being as we lean on the strength of God to carry us through times of uncertainty.