Clinging to Control

I see the remote a mile away-

the remote that controls today

I reach for it with outstretched hands

I click "on" and then

Any other button I choose

This control is easy to use

But the one thing I cannot control

is the power of letting go

For this there is no remote

I can't turn it on and off when I choose

This power is too precious to lose

The power lies in a hand I can hold

The One who has complete control

-KBT

We often try to control circumstances in our lives that are out of our control. We believe that we can control what happens with our family, careers, and future. Especially in the world we live in, we may feel like we are beginning to lose control because of circumstances around us. We can make decisions that directly affect our lives, yet this is not the same as control. The word control is defined "to exercise restraining or directing influence over." I would compare the word control, in the way I am referring to it here, to the word manipulate. We often want to manipulate people or things in our lives so that we can get what we want. Am I right? Unfortunately for us, some situations are out of our control. There is nothing we can do to change them.

If you look at the life of Jesus' mother, Mary, you will find many ways in which she could have tried to control (manipulate) the situations she was placed in.

First, Mary could've refused to become pregnant, knowing the reproach it would bring upon her and her family.

Second, she could have backed out on her marriage to Joseph, especially knowing that she was having a child and he didn't understand.

Mary could have responded differently when the angel informed her that the child she was carrying would be born of God and belonged to God.

She could have disobeyed the angel when it came to the naming of her unborn child.

Mary could have insisted Joseph find her some place better to have her baby than among the animals.

After Jesus was born, Mary could have turned away the shepherds, wise men, and anyone else who came to see baby Jesus.

Finally, Mary could have cursed those who crucified her son and lived the rest of her life in bitterness and contempt. She could have been angry with God for giving her Jesus, yet taking him away in such a cruel manner.

Mary COULD have made different decisions, but she didn't. She trusted that God's plans for her were better than what she wanted for her life.

Instead of disobedience, she chose obedience.

Instead of fear, she chose faith.

Instead of doubt, she chose trust.

Instead of running from God, she leaned into Him.

Instead of ignoring, she listened.

Instead of bitterness, she chose forgiveness.

Instead of hate, she chose love.

Mary's life was ultimately in God's hands, but if she had tried to take control of what God wanted for her life, maybe she wouldn't have been chosen for the task of bringing Jesus into the world.

Which part of your life are you not willing to give over to God? Are you clinging so tightly to your control that you're not allowing Him to work how He wants to? You could miss a grand opportunity in life by clinging to control. Choosing to manipulate or control situations will only get you what you THINK you want, but in the end, will not satisfy your deepest needs.

I am reminded of the words to a song that sums up how we should trust God:

Give it to God. Turn it over. Lay it in His hands. Give it to God, knowing that He's able to do what only He can. He's a burden-bearer so cast your every care. You can bring all that you've got. Why wait another day? Give it to God.

If you have been trying to control every aspect of your life, obsessing over the smallest details, and wondering why God isn't helping you...you're going about things all wrong. All you have to do is accept that you are not in control of everything in your life. You make choices in your life, certainly, but the ultimate control belongs to God. Not one sparrow falls to the ground without Him knowing.

Sometimes it's hard not to have the mindset that your plans are best and that everything should work out how you want it to. I believe God brought this simple image to my mind to teach me a lesson about control:

We often love our control so much that we aren't willing to let it go. We think our plans are better and this is why we cling to control. It can be hard to trust God when we don't see the bigger picture, but we can be confident that God will give us something better than what we have right now. He knows what is best for us even when we don't understand. Will we release our control or cling to it? Is God whispering, "just trust me?" If so, you can rest assured His plans and His ways are far better than anything you are clinging to.

Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)-"For I know the plans I have for you", declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."