The whole world is seemingly obsessed with control, who has it, who wants it, who is going to get it, and who is going to lose it. Every environment we come into contact with is operated on control. People at our place of employment want to be in control, people at our place of worship want to be in control, and people in our families want to be in control. We have spent the majority of our lives jockeying for position to see who is going to end up on top. We fight for it, we lie for it, and we manipulate for it. We try to control our lives and our bodies. We want what we want when we want it, and we try to make sure that happens, often times in vain.

Ironically, when it comes right down to it, the only thing that is really in control is the control itself. Not being in control makes us mad, it makes us frustrated, it makes us bitter, and it makes a worry. We carry the weight of trying to be in control around with us, and let me tell you, it is awfully heavy. When we try to be in control of everything, we have difficulty maintaining relationships. We find ourselves fighting with our parents, our siblings, our spouses, and our friends. We become so obsessed with control that we no longer see the good in the world or in the people we love. We want them to do what we want when we want them to do it, and if they do not we get mad and sometimes even cut them out of our lives.

However, if we would just stop and think about it for a minute, having control over everything is not what we should want. It is not what God wants for our lives either. Imagine all the strife and worry that could be eliminated from our lives if we would just let go of control. We all want peace in our lives, and one key to having peace is to stop trying to control everything. We need to hand over the control to God. He is in control anyway, whether we like it or not. When we try to have absolute control, we tend to take matters into our own hands. We often mess everything up and get ourselves into situations that we do not want or need to be in. Of course, when that happens, we look to God to get us out. If we had just allowed Himto be in control, we would not have been in the situation in the first place.

So, let go. Let God guide your life. If you find yourself wanting to control a situation, just step back and let God have it. It is going to be what it is going to be, and no amount of control on your part can change that. Now, I am not saying that we should just sit back and let whatever happens happen. We have to be wise and know what we can control and what we cannot control. We also have to make God part of our decision making process. If we can give up on trying to control everything and everyone, much of the worry and stress in our lives will disappear. It is a lot like the song by Carrie Underwood, “Jesus Take the Wheel”. We have to let God take control. That’s what He wants and His hands are far more capable than ours. So the next time you feel the need to control a situation or other people, just say to God to “Take it” and let Him really take it. Trust that He knows what is best and have faith that everything will work out the way it should and just enjoy the peace that comes from letting God be in control, because PEACE MATTERS.

~Dan~