Outcomes in God's Hands

Last week I had a difficult conversation I'd been dreading. I prepared carefully chose my words wisely spoke from my heart. And it didn't go the way I hoped. The other person got defensive we both got hurt and nothing was resolved. I hung up the phone feeling like I'd failed like all my preparation had been worthless.

Then I remembered: turning our will and lives over to God means putting the outcome in God's hands. I had done my part – prepared spoken honestly showed up with care. The outcome wasn't mine to determine. That conversation might plant seeds that take months to grow. It might open doors I can't see yet. Or it might simply be what it was and that's okay too.

I've confused doing my best with controlling the results for so long. I think if I just do things well enough I can make things turn out right. But outcomes live in territory beyond my influence. I can control my actions not their effects. I can choose my words not how they're received.

Putting outcomes in God's hands feels like letting go of the steering wheel while the car is moving. Terrifying. But I'm learning that I was never actually steering anyway.

Today I can do my part with care and release my grip on results I was never meant to control.