“We want you to be encouraged, we want you to start each day feeling like there’s hope. I found hope in this quote from Lysa TerKeurst because I tend to want to control things…I expected more of a laugh from you when I said that! (to Daryl) Yeah, the term ‘control freak’ has been thrown around a little bit. So this is a comfort, and I hope it is for you, too. This is a prayer, really; we can all pray this morning.
‘Lord, keep reminding us that we don’t have to fall prey to the urge to take control of our lives. You are in total control, and You hold our very lives in Your more than able hands.’ Job 12.10 says ‘For the life of every living thing is in His hand and the breath of every human being.’ So remember that today, and I will too.” ~Julie Pierce
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“You can do anything you put your mind to.”
“Your fate is in your hands.”
“Don’t stop when you’re tired. Stop when you’re done.”
“Don’t wait for an opportunity. Create it.”
How many times have you heard these sayings or something similar? It seems to be our culture’s constant refrain: “It’s all in your hands. Work harder. It doesn’t matter what it costs.” It’s no wonder we see overworked, stressed, isolated, disconnected people all around us (or in the mirror ?) In so many ways we’ve accepted the lie that the only way to be happy is to be successful, and the only way to be successful is to abandon the balance between work and rest.
3 Red Flags To Being A Control Freak
To be sure, there’s a place for hard work and perseverance, but here are three ways to tell if you’re relying on your own strength and wisdom instead of the Lord’s.
- Do you continue to fume, complain, or worry when things don’t go according to your plan? The word “continue” is key here. It’s common, and sometimes even expected, as a first reaction to be shaken a little by curveballs in life. What do you do after that first reaction? That’s what can show you the state of your heart. If you find yourself in a cycle of anxiety, worry, or anger over every unexpected change or challenge, you might be putting more stock in your ability to control things than you realize. Examine how your actions line up with your beliefs. Do you say “I trust God will take care of me,” but then when you get an unexpected bill, you worry, despair, and scramble to sell something? Instead, pray and ask God to help you and lead you to what you should do. Sometimes, He absolutely will send you an odd job or a way to earn money. And sometimes you get a check in the mail you weren’t expecting. The whole point of trials like that are to grow your trust and dependence on the Lord.
“Look here, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we are going to a certain town and will stay there a year. We will do business there and make a profit.’ How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog- it’s here a little while, then it’s gone. What you ought to say is, ‘If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that.’ Otherwise you are boasting about your own pretentious plans, and all such boasting is evil.”
James 4.13-16 NLT
“We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation.”
Romans 5.3-4 NLT
- Do you feel like you have to sacrifice time with your family/church/friends to work more to get ahead? Do you consistently work longer than you planned, or miss family events because of work? Do you feel like you have to live like that to keep paying the bills? There’s a difference between being hardworking and responsible and allowing yourself to believe your provision is entirely in your own hands. If we put our trust in the Lord, we can rest assured that He always provides for His children. This is a well-known verse that’s easy to gloss over in times of trouble. Let it fall on you fresh today. Are your actions showing that you believe this is true?
“That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life- whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food and your body more than clothing? Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to Him than they are? Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?”
Matthew 6.25-27 NLT
“Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible.”
Matthew 19.26 NLT
- Do you feel stressed and overwhelmed by having to keep everything on track? When you think about what would happen if you released your iron-grip of control on your life, does the phrase “God helps those who help themselves” come to mind? Here’s a bit of relief- the Bible doesn’t say that. The Bible shows us time and time again a God that is quick to help us when we humble ourselves and come to Him. A God who helps the helpless. He delights in showing us grace- favor when we deserve nothing. What are some ways you can give up control over some things in your life and trust God in your situation?
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek His will in all you do and He will show you which path to take. Don’t be impressed with your own wisdom. Instead, fear the Lord and turn away from evil.”
Proverbs 3.5-7 NLT
“When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners.”
Romans 5.6 NLT
Take some time today to think about if there are areas of your life that you need to hand over to God. Pray and ask the Lord to help you see where you are trusting yourself instead of Him. Then, let go. Hand it over and watch Him make beauty out of your ashes. Every time you find yourself worrying about that thing again, hand it over again. It might take time and intentionality, but each time you get a little stronger and a little faster at noticing when your thinking is flawed.
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God bless you. Stay hopeful! ❤️
