Except the Lord...

Psalm 127:1-2 [1] Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain. [2] It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep.

Vs. 1-2 Teaches us that God ultimately has control.  No matter what we do He orchestrates the outcome.  

Psalm 127:3-4 [3] Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward. [4] As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth.

Vs. 3-5 Teaches us that our children come from the Lord.  There is potential for them to be anything when they are young.  We as parents are to take careful aim where we will send them.  So, when thinking on this...I thought of shooting arrows.  We can take the best aim, be the best marksman, have a great target....but we have no control of the environment between the bow and the target.  What if a great wind comes up after you shoot the arrow? It would then be off course a little. Then the target would be missed.  Well, our God controls the even the wind.  This is actually a comfort to me as I am watching my children struggle to find their way.  "The winds and the waves, obey His voice....Peace be still." I just need to trust that He will get them to their appointed target in the end.

This all brings me back to vs. 1-2.  God truly is in control. We labor in vain, we can't get up early, stay up late, and make the outcome any different than He has planned.  "For so he giveth his beloved sleep" we just need to rest in Him.