Leave Them Alone

I want to call your attention to an issue that causes many people to lose their peace and be unable to rest in God, and that is our desire to help, fix, rescue, or change other people.  One thing we cannot do with our faith is control someone else's right to free choice.  We simply cannot make people love God, live right, or do what we think they should do.

Most of us want to help people when we see them hurting themselves, but we must remember that one of God's great gifts to humanity is the gift of free will.  Every person alive is free to make his or her own choice.  When you are believing God for something in another person's life, your will is not the only will involved.  That person's will also affects the outcome--even more than yours does.  When you pray for people, you open the door for God to work in their lives, but they still have to choose to cooperate with Him.

Refuse to lose your joy over somebody else's bad choice.  You have a life to live, and I encourage you to live it by learning to trust, wait on God, and rest in Him.  Remember--you cannot help someone who does not believe they have a problem.  (Joyce Meyer-Happiness)

I like things to be in their places--makes me feel better.  I want everyone around me to be doing what I think they should be doing---I function better.  I've referenced myself four times and there is the problem.  It's not about me.  What God has in store for someone might be different than what I think they should be doing. 

Learning to trust, wait, and rest in Christ.  Key word for me is learning.  I have to be mindful that when I'm praying for someone that it's not for me--my emotional stability.  I'm always checking my motives when I'm in prayer for specific people, praying that Christ weeds out my selfish desires.  My family is not my personal chess board; I am not able to move people around as I see fit.  I place them in God's hands, trusting Him for their next move.