Make Lemonade... When You Can - Todd Tami and Family

August 5th, 2018

Well, I have one week left here on summer mission, and I’m already getting so sad. I got to go home briefly this weekend to stand by my cousin Liz on her wedding day, but now I am back in Chicago to finish out my 10 weeks here.

Currently, as I write this, I am sitting in the lobby of my apartment building, locked out of my room. Our apartment building has had some issues with the room keys not working this past weekend while I was gone, but I had figured the problem was fixed. Apparently not. As you can imagine, I started to panic when the light did not turn green as I furiously slid my card into the door over and over. Red. Red. Red. Sweaty, exhausted, and in major need of a shower, I went back downstairs to the security desk. “Sorry ma’m there’s nothing we can do. You will have to sit in the hallway until one of your roommates can come because our office isn’t open today to help you out.” Really?! My roommates aren’t coming home from church for about another 2 hours. So here I am, waiting in the lobby, sweaty, tired, in major need of a shower, and now super annoyed.

But as I sat here, texting my mom (who so graciously loves me even when I complain to her), I began thinking about something I believe God has been teaching me this summer. The big idea is this: Change the things you can change, and let go of the things you can’t.

I’ve always liked to be in control. From my earliest memories, I needed to know what and when we were doing everything, have a schedule laid out in my head, and would be extremely anxious if it didn’t go as planned. I can think of many times where I have hurt people, because of this need for control. My parents and Tyler would probably say this is my biggest weakness, and I completely admit, they’re right.

Many times this summer, and especially this week, I have had to step back, and literally say out loud, “It’s out of my control.” Train was late so I was late to work? Out of my control. Waiter at dinner made us late to an event? Out of my control. Drove 40 min in the wrong direction and late again? Out of my control. Greyhound bus an hour late? Out of my control. Locked out?… Out of my control.

Giving up these things is really really hard. It’s a terrible feeling knowing you are helpless, especially for a person that doesn’t “go with the flow”. But God commands us to not worry about anything. Anything. And that includes the red line train that has a delay every other 5 minutes. He desires for us to not worry about anything because we should be looking at Him at all times. When Peter looked away from Jesus on the water, he fell. When we look away, we get sucked up by the world, the hustle and bustle of a stressful life here on earth where the enemy remains prince. For me, he attacks in the littlest ways. He attacks my heart with anxiety and the need for control. But, Jesus commands me to do my best, in everything, and to worry about nothing. So, when stressful things happen, I lean on Him to help me figure out a solution, or a new way. But when there is nothing, I lean on Him to keep my heart at peace, and my eyes fixed.

My sister Jaylin always says “Make lemonade out of lemons”. But I believe it’s better as, “Make lemonade when you can, but be joyful, even when you have to keep the lemons as is”. Joy is not happiness. Joy is basking in Jesus, seeing His goodness, His plan, and His promises, that will far surpass what you feel you need to control. Lord, I surrender.

Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”

~Matthew 14:29-31~

Check out this song! We have been singing this here on mission, and it relates so well to how I feel today.