This month marks one year that I have been a regular church goer. This is a big thing for me. While I have always considered myself a Christian and a spiritual person church is not something that comes easy to me. Sadly I still feel a certain level of anxiety before I go, but I like Epic Church enough to keep going back. This is a great thing for me because having faith is a huge facilitator to Chasing Joy. Believing in something bigger than yourself (for me that is God) allows us to believe that things can change and get better. Faith allows us to have hope. Faith based practices like attending church, reading scripture or devotionals, and prayer reinforce our faith and therefore our hope. Attending Church also helps with that building the community you need thing that I was talking about a couple weeks ago.
Epic Tales: Faith, To Remedy Control Issues and Chase Joy
Anyway, I am happy to have been attending Epic for a year now. Over the last year I have shared a few things that I learned or was inspired by at Church. I call them Epic Tales. This week’s Epic Tale gave me a new reason why having some sort of Faith is a great asset when Chasing Joy. Prior to the sermon they showed a video of someone giving a personal testimony about how much better she feels and happier she is an why she was ready for baptism. One thing she said really stood out and hit home with me. She said she no longer felt like she had to micro-manage her life.
This was the message meant for me yesterday. I like to be and feel in control. Not really of other people but in control of myself and my surroundings. This is why I never really drank until I was out of college, why I over analyze things, and hate roller skating and skiing. I like to feel in control of my actions, body, and circumstances at all times. This has been an asset to me in some ways as it has kept me out of some trouble. However it does me a huge disservice at other times. The reality is no one can control everything. In trying to do so I have caused myself extra stress, lack of sleep, and many pounds worth of emotional eating. I need to stop. We all need to fall back on our faith, trust that God is in control and stop micro-managing our lives.
Do you have control issues like moi? Are you trying to micro-manage your life? Do you have a Faith practice that aids you in Chasing Joy.
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I certainly do have control issues. I can be spontaneous but I also prefer to know what I'm getting myself into.
Great Post and I think we all have areas of our lives we need to work on. Some more than others but the point is knowing when and how to work on those things!! Thanks for sharing!
So glad that you connected with a church! I love being a woman of faith!
Great post. I need to find myself a church to start going to.
I wouldn't say that I have control issues but I do like things a certain way….lol.
Thanks for the inspiration….
Great post. I need to find myself a church to start going to.
I wouldn't say that I have control issues but I do like things a certain way….lol.
Thanks for the inspiration….
Yes, control problem over here. I'm working on it but it's a process. Thank you for this.
It is a challenge to find balance between being in control and surrendering to possibilities that we might not have the vision for. I applaud your efforts.
Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see. Hebrews 11:1
You gotta have faith!
Faith is incredible!! It a wonderful feeling to know that God loves and will provide for us. Im glad you found a church home that helps clarify that 🙂
I'm pretty territorial when it comes to certain things, but I try my best to be as flexible as possible when dealing with others. Great that you found a church that is helping you grow.
I've tried to control everything and know how stressful it can be. It sounds like you got the right message at the right time.
Because I was abused for so many years as a child, one of the challenges I have as adult is the need to be in control because it is the only way I feel safe. It is often hard for me to see that sometimes there are things I really can't control. But, I am working on that.
I like to control what I know if I don't know I don't control. I let the reigns over more now than when I was younger because I thought I could do it all.
What a great post. We have found a church that we like…still don't feel real connected with it but at least a few people recognize us and know our name. Not a ton but a few. So getting connected.
I need to go to church regularly. I sincerely miss it. I think being in church helped me through a lot of things. I definitely need to go back.
Church is such a great lifestyle – you're right you have a community and I think it's a great way to meet people and do life together!
I am definitely Type A and feel lost when I do not have control over a situation. I believe this is a difficult thing to overcome but do put effort into letting go.
I am a huge control freak and so is my husband. You can imagine how much we clash over things!
It is great that you have found the right church. I know a few people who bounce around from church to church. Catherine S
I'm so glad you found a church that fit you! That can be incredibly difficult.
Good for you! Anxiety is such a struggle to overcome, and finding the right church is SO important!
Great post! I am glad that you found the perfect church for you, that really is key to make you want to go back 🙂 I try to always have faith.
I am One of those people that needs to control every aspect of my life. I have a lot of trouble handing the reins over to anyone else.