Finding Balance

David and Goliath

What is the balance between faith and wisdom? Between relying on God and relying on self?

I often hear people cite the David and Goliath story as an example of the power of faith: here is this young boy, who against all odds, takes down the mighty warrior. 

The story certainly is an example of faith, but the kid also knew how to throw a rock.

Or take this for example. Let's say you planned a road trip and meticulously prepared for everything and despite all  your preparations, an hour into the trip, your tire blows out. 

Would you sit in the car asking God to miraculously fix the tire? Probably not. You would get out and do it yourself. You might pray for safety while making the repair or you might thank God no one was hurt as you careened off the road. But you are responsible to take action for the things within your control.

But what about cancer or the death of a child? Circumstances out of your control and ones that don't make sense. What is the balance there? 

How is your balance?

The idea might be, that we apply the balance we use in the little moments to the moments that don't make sense. 

We evaluate our circumstances and take action for the things within our control and surrender to God the things out of our control.

We must leave room for God to act in our lives, to come through for us. But we must also come through on our end.

Where in your life do you need to surrender control to God?  And on the other side, where in your life do you need to take accountability and take action yourself?