Saturday, March 17, 2012

It's OK to say "I don't Know."


I'm a bit of a control freak. I admit it and I own it. I also realize that I'm not alone. I have found that the more responsibility a person has, the greater their propensity to dominate situations. They weigh their decisions knowing, or at least speculating, that one wrong resolution could topple the pyramid of obligations.

As a Christian executive, don't you know that God is probably not pleased with our tendency to be controlling. "Be still and know that I am God" was not written by David just as a filler to his thick book of songs. It means something. It means that when we are tempted to claim responsibility for the outcome of a situation, especially one in which we are treading in new territory, we need to stop and know that He is God. He did not create any one person to have the ability to manage every situation that comes along. Even Solomon with his God given wisdom didn't know it all.

My four year old son is going through his independent stage. Many times, as I offer to help, he gets frustrated and says "No, Mom. I got this. I can do this." As much as it makes me smile, there are days when I wish he would trust me with the outcome and let me intervene.

I can just see God at times shaking his head saying, "Oh, Mary. My little independent one." And then other days, when I refuse to heed the red flags and continue into chaos, I imagine God shakes his finger passionately while asking "Why are you so stubborn?"

Here is the great truth. We don't have to know it all. We don't have to have all of the answers. It's OK to say "I don't know." It doesn't make us less of a person just as faking to know it all won't make us a greater person. We might as well call it the way it is. During those times when we are faced with impossible decisions, it might be best to close our office door and be still for a while. Better yet, hit the pavement and while walking, throw the situation back at God and relieve yourself of the burden.

Be still-don't wrestle with the problem.

and know that I am God-let God do the wrestling for you.

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