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Day 1: We do not need to be in control, because God is in control.

Prayer: God, Help me remember that you are in control and I can trust you. Amen.

Reading:

Having a sense of control feels good. Even as kids, we wanted to decide what to eat and when to go to bed—not our parents. There’s something very alluring about being the one who decides an outcome. But that longing to be the one in charge can also fuel a common false belief: I must be in control to be safe, secure, and satisfied.

For instance, we might feel safer on a road trip when we’re in the driver’s seat (control), trusting in our ability to react quickly to avoid a dangerous collision.

We may feel more secure when we’re the only person who has access to the family savings account (control) because we can make sure that money does what we want it to do.

We might feel more satisfied when we’re the one planning the upcoming vacation (control) because we know all the best sights to see and dining options.

But that “control” is ultimately an illusion, right? We’ve all experienced bad weather or some unexpected emergency that tossed our well-made plans out the window. After all, we can’t really fully control anything, can we?

King Solomon, who has been referred to as the wisest man who ever lived, wrote these words:

Many are the plans in a person’s mind, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails. (Proverbs 19:21)

We do not need to be in control, because God is in control.

While we may not be fully in control of our lives, we can lean on the one who is. We have limited perspective, seeing only what affects us. But God has an unlimited perspective. He sees the past, present, and future for everything and everyone.

While we may not fully understand why things sometimes go sideways in life, we know God loves us and cares about what happens to us. Even when our lives are not going the way we hoped, we know that God is not caught off guard and that he is with us. And what’s more, his ultimate purposes will prevail.

Yes, it can be frustrating when we aren’t in control. It can be disappointing and even heartbreaking when our plans fall apart. But it’s worth remembering…

Even when I feel like I’m in control, I’m really not.

No matter what happens, God is with me.

God’s purposes will ultimately be accomplished. 

Reflection:

In what areas of my life do I find myself fighting for control, and how can I remember to trust God with those things this week?