Control vs. Biblical Nonresistance

A few days before John’s post, “Biblical Nonresistance,” came out, it was read to the group of Shulamites gathered together. It was and is a Hebrews 4:12 encounter for me. It struck hard, as do many of these posts, and is dividing deeply soul and spirit in me. I woke up with it again this morning – my resistance and His call to nonresistance.

Hebrews 4:12
For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

Death and Control

Right after the Lord took my dear husband, Don, two years ago I wrote something in a post called “Death and Control.” I knew it came down from heaven to me. It was Light, real and tangible. I felt it, experienced it, and lived in it. He said, “Death of a loved one – or perhaps simply, powerfully death itself – is the greatest affront, insult, injury, offense to human control. It is a dagger to the soul of the illusion of control. It IS a crisis.”

For months and months after Don’s death, I was amazed as I lived in the 23^rd Psalm. Yes, I cried a lot, I grieved deeply (and still do) but somehow I was carried above it. It was so strange to me that at times I would ask Martha if I was in ‘la la land’ or Reality. She assured me that it was and should be the normal Christian life. It was a living Testimony of Christ that I witnessed in wonder. He was my testimony. As I look back, I realize that through Don’s death He rendered me completely helpless and weak and needy. I didn’t have to try to be that; He did it.

An Issue of Control

Resistance is at bottom, an issue of control. John said in his post that nonresistance is a work. This morning I see it as a death—the affront, insult, offense and death to my control. I’m thinking of a particular situation in my life that not only affects me but those I love deeply as well, and is steeped in evil, cruelty, revenge. The people involved are so completely without conscience or remorse, parading in the guise of being good! Oh! It has exposed and evoked every ounce of resistance and hatred and anxiety in me. But this morning I see that my anxiety is simply my resistance to the reality that I have no control over this situation. Control is my bottom-line issue.

As He continues to bring His sword over the word of nonresistance, I am choosing to relinquish again all my control, to die to control and my own revenge and will. “Not my will, but Your will be done.”

He has given me His word and promise about the situation. Will I believe Him and let Him have His way and His purpose even though it appears many times like the enemy is prevailing? My loved ones belong to Him and JESUS IS LORD over them and every situation! That has been my proclamation, and He is surely moving and pressuring everything out of the way that isn’t in conformity to that.

Matthew 5:39
But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.