Seriously. I like it when things are under control… under my control.
So when snowpocalypse threatens half the country (and our Winter Teen Retreat) I’m not happy. And when, the very next weekend, we get an ice storm on Friday night while over 800 students and leaders are headed to camp from all over the region… I’m also not happy.
You see, there are a lot of things we can control, and even though we can make our own snow, we can’t control the weather. So we’ve learned to take such curveballs, make adjustments, and roll with them.
So, when something like that is headed my way, here are four things I do to help me (a control freak) deal with the uncontrollable:
1. I figure out what I do know. Sometimes this is a quick mental inventory. Sometimes it’s pulling together a team of people to whiteboard out the facts. It’s important to not let fear, hype, or uncertainty cloud your decisions… so stick to the facts. Do the research. Check multiple sources. And take notes.
What I’ve learned through many of these situations is that good information can make tough decisions and difficult circumstances easier to address.
2. I figure out what I can control. So, I can’t control the weather, but I do control the schedule and a number of resources (including human resources) that can help me influence the outcome. It’s important from the very beginning to be focused, not on what we can’t do, but on what we can do.
In some circumstances, we call this solution-focused problem solving. The things you have control over can be your tools to improve the outcome.
3. I set a deadline to make a decision or announce a plan. On a Friday night, I’ll get dozens of radio calls and text messages asking if we’re going to delay the start of the retreat—that is, if I don’t first announce when I’ll be making that decision. So, instead, what I’ll do is let our teams know when I’ll be making that decision, and then I’ll stick to it.
This requires evaluation of the facts, and your resources… and knowing what is the latest opportunity to deploy your resources based on the facts. So, this past Friday evening, with ice building up on the roads and more groups calling in to let us know they were running late, I let our staff know that we’d make the decision by 8:30pm… and we did.
4. Don’t panic. Scripture provides us with some key truths.
First, Romans 8:28 reminds us that, “in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Even when it seems the situation is out of control, God can work it out for the good of his people.
Second, Luke 12:29-31 says, “Do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.” You see, when we put God’s kingdom first—not the kingdom we try and control—we can have confidence that he will provide according to our needs.
So, when the weather takes a turn for the worse… or when it seems your circumstances are spiraling out of control… it’s ok. You don’t have to panic because you know that God has a plan and will provide the resources so that everything will work out for his kingdom and his glory.
Where do you feel like your life is out of control?