Lord, I'm Letting Go and Letting You Control

I'm single so I don’t have so much “need to control” any more. I have my say with the remote control, choosing what to eat and when to eat it, when to wake up and when to go to bed. But, I’ve noticed some control issues far too many times. God noticed and I feel His divine chisel out that is slicing and dicing off my rough edges. It isn’t comfortable, but I am yielding to His still small voice that often gets loud and clear. I'm letting go and letting Him control.

No doubt, all of us, in one way or the other, have some “control" issues. Recently I was trying to reorganize a group meeting AFTER the plans were settled and done. What in the world? Lord, please help me let go and let others have their way and, by all means, to let go and let YOU have YOUR way. This morning, in my daily text message to my children, I sent this scripture to them. I’m quite sure it was as much for me as them: Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and LEAN NOT to your own understanding. In all your ways, submit to Him and He will direct your paths.” Thanks, God! I needed that reminder!

Maybe you relate to my musings this morning. Maybe you, too, have control issues. Last week, I heard a mom share how her grown, married daughter doesn’t want to communicate with her or even come to see her and spend time with her. But the back story is this mom has control issues – always advising and telling her what to do. She is one of those helicopter parents (overprotective and hovering over the every move of her daughter). Control issues are the enemy’s tactics to drive wedges in relationships.

Recently, I had a passenger with me in my car and before I could get the car started, she was already telling me how to drive, which road to turn on, which direction to go and how fast to go. I was quite proud of myself because I just let her “control”. There are just sometimes it’s best to let a controller be in control – for Pete’s sake -- and for peace sake.

Bottom line.....it's time to let go of having to control. It's time to choose "surrender" over "control". Submitting instead of controlling. Again, that scripture says it best….”in ALL your ways, submit to Him” – let Him be the controller.

Dear God, I confess I like being in control. It makes me feel safe and secure. It makes me feel like I have a purpose. But I know that being a control freak isn’t going to get me anywhere. Help me surrender control to you each and every day. Help me trust in you deeply, so that I will not fear surrendering that control. I open the cage and let the "control" birds fly away! Amen.

Are You a Control Freak?

That was our discussion at Life Group last night. After hearing a most compelling message on Sunday about "surrendering our need to control", it seemed all of us, in one way or the other, realized we just might have some "control" issues. I didn't think of myself as being a controller until the example was used of "having to have the bath towels folded in a certain way". Oh me! That's me. I get a little frustrated when I see someone folding towels with the tag up and the ends are all different on every towel. I told the girls "I heard that message and remembered how, at James Mission, when we were sorting and folding clothes, I would go behind the other girls and refold what they had already folded. What in the world? Who knew? But after hearing that message, I was pegged as a "controller"!

Maybe you are a "control freak" or least live with one? Maybe it's better to say "have control issues". You know -- the one that MUST be in charge of the remote control. Or the one that is telling the driver how to drive and where to turn and how fast to go. Or how about the helicopter parents (the overprotective parents) that hover over every move of their kids. That's considered a "control freak". Pastor Craig admitted to being a control freak too. He said there are days that the fingerprints on their back windows and doors really freak him out, because he wants that beautiful view of his backyard. But, he came to realize that the day would soon come when all the kids have left home and on their own, that he'd long to see those little fingerprints again. I wanted to whisper in his ear...."Oh, you will -- when the grandkids show up!"

Bottom line.....it's time to let go of having to control. It's time to choose "surrender" over "control". Submitting instead of controlling. I think God's Word says it best in Proverbs 3:5-6 (my favorite verse -- and one I need to practice more and more) "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways, SUBMIT to Him, and He will make your paths straight."

May God help us loosen our grip on control. May we surrender all to He Who knows best, guides best, and guides best.