What is control? Isn’t it something we all have to have? Isn’t it something we all need to survive in this life? Of course, there are times we must take control of a situation but when we carry it too far by trying to control everything?? It becomes a negative thing and affects your life and your health even. What about a control freak? Hmmmmm, I know some of you winced in pain there because you know you are:

Control Freak-A PERSON WHO HAS AN OBSESSIVE NEED TO CONTROL OTHER PEOPLE OR SITUATIONS.

Is this you? Are you like David in the Bible and try to control something that wasn’t yours to begin with? In II Samuel David did just a thing and maybe you think what you do isn’t as bad but is it?? Let’s look at what David does..

11 Uriah said to David, “The ark and Israel and Judah are staying in tents, and my master Joab and my lord’s men are camped in the open fields. How could I go to my house to eat and drink and lie with my wife? As surely as you live, I will not do such a thing!”

13  At David’s invitation, he ate and drank with him, and David made him drunk. But in the evening Uriah went out to sleep on his mat among his master’s servants; he did not go home.

14 In the morning David wrote a letter to Joab and sent it with Uriah.

15 In it he wrote, “Put Uriah in the front line where the fighting is fiercest. Then withdraw from him so he will be struck down and die.”

2 Samuel 11:11,13-15

Little did Uriah know, David had seen Bathsheba on the roof and now David had to hide his sin with her. So, the only way he could do it was to get Uriah drunk, pass out and sleep w/o going home to his wife. David had to think of something so he planned-tried to control the outcome-to place Uriah on the front line and then have everyone withdraw causing Uriah to be killed. Wow. Is that not intense and full of control?? Maybe you don’t think you do something that is that bad but do you? Do you withhold something from someone to “harm them” or “teach them a lesson?” Do you not do something in order to teach them a lesson or because you’re upset? In return what kind of damage are you doing to your marriage, finances and/or friendships? What is it doing to your relationship with God? Control can break you in half, ruin your life and your walk with God. What causes this control??  Fear.. Fear is the driving force behind our control.. We’re afraid of loosing control, we’re afraid of not knowing what to do or say, we’re afraid of not having an answer or the right answer, we’re afraid of what people and others may think…Is it making sense yet?? Be honest.. It’s our fear of rejection, failure and the unknown which are the root causes of our fear which in turn, creates control within us.. “Now now, it’s just that I want it done a certain way“-right?? Of course, the fear of something not being done to your standards or the way you want it.. “You don’t understand, I don’t know if where I’d get the money to build a new building, or move to another state or change jobs...” That fear of the unknown, lack of trust and unsure of God’s direction in your life because if He directed you to do it, then there’s no question.. Is it hard-of course, is it always clear-sometimes it seems it isn’t.. Look at Isaiah 41:10:

“So do not fear, for I am with you;… for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” 

God is assuring us, He is with us-He is your God, He will strengthen you, help you, uphold you.. This is the God of the universe saying He’s on our side-how awesome is that! How can we do this-what can we do?? How can we take control or can we take control of what’s holding us back?

First thing is to surrender our control and trust in God. We have to let it go and allow God to control us so that we can control the things in our life the proper way.. We have to learn to trust God more in our life and trust us less.. Proverbs 3:5-6 says it like this:

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding…and he will direct your paths.”

We must trust in God: 1-when you need Him, 2-when you want too,  3-only when I can’t handle it and I’m down to my last option… NO NO NO!! God says to trust in Him with ALL your heart…He even goes as far as to say do not depend on your own understanding and then He tells us why….He will direct our paths.. The God of the universe, our Heavenly Father wants to direct our path, how cool is that!!

Second, we must surrender our life to Him; no reservations and no holding back.. Psalms 51:1-2 puts it a different way..

“Have mercy on me, O God, because of your unfailing love. Because of your great compassion, blot out the stain of my sins.  Wash me clean from my guilt. Purify me from my sin.”

We have to ask for His mercy to cover our sins, to be the “lawyer” for our case, to hide the blemishes we have and are yet to come. Christ didn’t die for nothing, He died for you and I. We have to surrender our life so that we can lay everything down before Him. See, without surrendering our life, we still have the tendency to hold on to what we want to hold onto, keep the trash hidden behind the door instead of out where it should be, control the parts of our life we want to control.. Let’s face it, if we truly wanted to “take out the trash” in our life, we’d do it. Why do we wait until we “have to” before we actually do it? Why do we wait until we loose control…before we try and take control?? Let me say that again: “Why do we wait until we loose control…before we try and take control?”  We have to give it up, loose control so we can have control but through Christ. 2 Peter 1:6 explains it:

“and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness;”

So it’s clear or should be. 1-we must relinquish our control. We have to give it up and allow God to take control.. 2-we must surrender our life to Him. We have to lay everything out, lay all the cards on the table-allow God to do the work.. We must let go so we can gain control through Him.

So what are your thoughts? What are you thinking about your life right now?? Are you all in-giving your life to God and allowing Him to control our life instead of us?? It’s up to you but I will say this: giving up control so you can have control will be one of the best decisions you’ll ever make.. Don’t believe me?? Try it and let me know how it goes! :)