Releasing Control To God

I am like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God; I trust in God’s unfailing love for ever and ever.

Psalm 52:8

You might think you have to protect yourself from broken trust, betrayal, or pain in relationships by grabbing too tightly to control in an attempt to avoid further hurt. It’s a natural reaction. You may too readily want to share what you’ve learned in hopes of helping someone avoid what you have suffered. Neither course of action is healthy or helpful.

God offers another, more balanced way.

A healthy approach to relationships is to love others enough to let them make their own choices instead of succumbing to your need to control and insisting on your choices. And, yes, this means trusting people despite the fact that your trust muscle has been strained, if not torn. It also means trusting “in God’s unfailing love,” trusting that He will be with you whatever impact other people’s decisions have on you (Psalm 52:8).

As you learn to trust God to keep you through everything, you learn to relax and let go of control. Doing so will bring you the peace you were trying to grasp in your own strength.

So take a step of unshakeable faith. Trust God. Trust others to God. And let go.

Lord, please free me from my need to control, and grow my trust in You, Maker and Keeper of all things and people.