The fast pace of today's world may not be all it's cracked up to be. A new survey suggests many people feel their lives are out of control.

The study by WingspanBank.com found 61% of Americans feel at least one aspect of their lives is out of control. The top three priorities among respondents were personal health, household matters, and finances.

One company official says 4 in ten people aged 18 to 44 admit they have trouble controlling their finances.

This bears out the truth that control is an illusion. No one really has complete control of their health. We may feel we have some degree of control in areas such as our job or financial matters. Ultimately, we control very little in life. We break free from the need to control life when we place every circumstance in God's hands.

James 4:14-15 "Why, you don't even know what your life will be like tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that."

Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell, Agape Community Church, Rio Rancho

In her book The Healing Touch, Norma Dearing says, "Imagine that as we drive along in the journey of life, we see Jesus on the side of the road. Most of us pick Him up and put Him in the trunk in case we get into trouble and need Him—just like a spare tire.

As we travel along we come to a place where we decide to let Jesus out of the trunk and sit in the backseat for a while. It feels a little safer knowing He is back there. We converse with Him and find that He seems genuinely interested in us. We also recognize that he is not a backseat driver; he does not try to take over control of the car.

Some of us enter a place in our spiritual journeys where we decide it might be nice to invite Jesus to come up front and sit in the passenger seat. It feels good to have Him there. We enjoy being close to Him and spending more time with Him.

One day, we ask Jesus, "Why is it I don't have peace in my life?" He answers, "Because I'm not driving your car."

This is very frightening because we are not at all sure we want Jesus to drive. We do not want to relinquish control of our lives to anyone, including Jesus. This is a trust issue."

All of us know whether we have picked Jesus up, and exactly where he is in the car of our lives. Norma also asks, "if you have allowed Jesus to drive, are you a back seat driver?"

The road to true peace is found when we leave the driving to Jesus. He said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life; No one comes to the Father, except by me." John 14:6 NIV

—The Healing Touch, A Guide to Healing Prayer for yourself and those you love;

Norma Dearing; Published 2002 by Chosen Books, pages 31-32. Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell.

Li after noticing that her dog "was fond of crouching on the steering wheel and often watched her drive," decided it would be a good idea to give the dog a turn behind the wheel. She operated the brake and accelerator pedals, but had her canine friend control of the wheel. Things didn't go so well for them. Shortly after giving the dog control of the car, they crashed into an oncoming car.

—http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060829/ap_on_fe_st/bad_dog_driver_2 Illustration by Jim L. Wilson

I can't imagine a different outcome than this. Of course the car would crash if a dog is in control of the wheel. That's the same outcome we experience when we take control of our own lives instead of giving control over to God.

Romans 12:1-2 (ESV) "I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. [2] Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."

The motion picture Kung Fu Panda offers a unique snapshot of the one part of life that troubles most people, the illusion of control.

A panda named Po comes from a family of noodle merchants. Though his family hopes that he will sell many noodles, Po dreams of becoming a Kung Fu Master. Through what appears to be a series of accidents, Po learns he may be the long awaited Dragon Warrior. Though he is overweight, untrained, and undisciplined, Po is only hope for the deliverance of his people.

In the meantime, Master Shifu has spent years training five students, believing one of them would become the Dragon Warrior. When he learns that his students have been rejected and Po is the warrior, Shifu is disappointed and disillusioned. He tries to get rid of Po and replace him with one of his students. His fear only grows when Shifu discovers that Tai Lung, a menacing prisoner, has escaped and intends to exact revenge on him and the people of community.

Just when Shifu believes all hope is lost, his confidence is shattered again, when he learns he must face an uncertain future without his trusted Master.

Option 1; Play scene from Kung Fu Warrior, Chapter 12 42:32 to 45:38 and make application.

Shifu comes running up to master Oogway and says, “Master, I have bad news.” Oogway responds there is only news, but agrees with Shifu’s assessment when he hears that Tai Lung has escaped from prison. After a moment of consideration, Oogway says, “That is bad news if you do not believe the Dragon Warrior can stop him.”

Shifu looks at Oogway incredulously, and asks,”The Panda? Master, that Panda is not the dragon warrior. He wasn’t meant to be here! It was an accident.”

Oogway bends down to look Shifu in the eye and says, “There are not accidents.”
Shifu waves off the comment. “Yes I know…you’ve said that already. Twice.”

Oogway chuckles and adds, “Well that was no accident either.” Shifu quietly says, “Thrice.” Then Oogway continues, ”The Panda will never fulfill his destiny nor you yours until you let go of the illusion of control.” Shifu looks confused and asks, “Illusion?”

Oogway looks up at the peach tree beside him and explains, “Yes. Look at this peach tree. I cannot make it blossom when it suites me, or make it bear fruit before its time.”

Argumentatively, Shifu responds, “But there are things we can control.” He kicks the tree and knocks a few peaches off, one of which hits him in the head. “I can control when the fruit will fall.” He chops the peach in two and catches the pit. “I can control where to plant the seed. That is not an illusion Master!” To illustrate his point, he punches a hole in the ground and tosses the pit in.

Oogway concedes, “Ah yes, but no matter what you do that seed will grow to be a peach tree. You may wish for an apple or an orange, but you will get a peach.” Shifu turns the conversation back to the topic at hand saying, ”But a peach cannot defeat Tai Lung!” In response, Oogway covers the peach pit with the sweep of his hand and says, “Maybe it can if you are willing to guide it. And nurture it.” Shifu protests, “But how. How?” He pauses and recognizing his weakness adds, “I need your help master.”

Oogway corrects him. “No, you just need to believe. Promise me Shifu. Promise me you will believe.” Shifu stutters, “I...I will try master.” At this moment, Oogway looks up as the breeze stirs through the peach blossoms and begins blowing them into the distance. He looks at Shifu as says, “My time has come. You must continue your journey without me.” Shifu protests, “Master you can’t leave me.” His words are unheeded as Oogway begins to fade into the swell of peach petals. As Oogway fades, he adds, “You must believe.”

--Kung Fu Panda, Chapter 13, 42:32 to 45:38. Illustration by Jim L. Wlson and Jim Sandell

Application: None of us is really in control of every aspect of life. Sometimes what we thought was a detour, becomes the pathway we must walk. We can make decisions, but, but ultimately God is in control of the direction we will take. We must respond in obedience and faith even life gives us peaches when we wanted oranges or apples.

We must hold to our belief that God is in control, even we His face is not clearly visible. He will guide us every step of the way. He is in control, and we don’t have to be.

Proverbs 16:9 (CEV) “We make our own plans, but the Lord decides where we will go.”

A one and a half year old boy in Ontario had to be broken out of a washing machine after it started its wash cycle. One of the boy’s family members loaded him into the machine. When the door closed, the machine started to fill with water. None of the family members could open the door and a nearby construction worker with a baseball bat had to break the glass door to save the boy. The negligent family meant no harm, but their lack of care may have cost the boy his life.

--Newsdesk International’s Blog- http://newsdeskinternational.wordpress.com/2011/04/24/toddler-rescued-from-washing-machine/ Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Miguel Martinez

1 Timothy 3:4-5(NASB) 4 He must be one who manages his own household well, keeping his children under control with all dignity 5 (but if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of the church of God?),