How Do You Let Go When You Love Control?
35 And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side.36 And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships.37 And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full.38 And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?39 And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.40 And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith? 41 And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?
Mark 4:35-41
When you are a mom of four boys it’s hard to control anything and the older they get the less control you have! If you have little ones you know life can be a little like a hurricane. You can try to plan and prepare so that you are on time for church but sure enough, the baby is going to have a blowout as you are walking out the door and your teen will end up yelling at you from the back seat that he forgot to put on his shoes. YES. That has happened to us!
I’m sure you have your own set of experiences raising a family that is a reminder to you that no matter how much you TRY to control circumstances they are almost always uncontrollable. As a mom of teens, it’s a little unnerving having your kids outside of your home more and more. They venture to camp, hang out with friends, and go to prom and you know that you cannot control the conversations or situations. Oh, to have them three again when I could just change the channel, turn off the radio, or take the cookie away. When I could just control more!
I began to pour my heart out to God and ask Him to take control of my children as they were away from me. I asked Him to control their environment, their influences, and their actions. But the more I pointed out all the areas I needed God to take control of the more anxiety I began to experience.
I was reminded of the time Jesus was on a boat with His disciples.
The winds came and the waves grew in height and the boat was about to be broken in two. The disciples were terrified. The storm was too strong. They were going to be overturned. The Bible says that the ship was now full. They were about to be capsized. It was only then they remembered Jesus on the boat. Where was Jesus? Oh, just sleeping. They woke up Jesus with a desperate cry and as He heard the disciples plea for help He got up and told the wind and the waves to “be still.”
The disciples had the ONE able to control the circumstance on their boat the entire time but they still waited until the sea filled their boat to wake HIM. I imagine they did everything they could first. They tried to turn the boat away from each wave. They tried to ease the weight by throwing crates overboard. Maybe they tried to scoop water into barrels and dump it back into the sea. When all that failed THEN they ran to God.
Do you want to know know what is causing your anxiety, your fears, and your worries when you lack control?
We are trying to be God.
No, we don’t claim to be Him but we do feel like we have to help Him out, don’t we?
We feel like we have to do it all first, then run to Him. And maybe, even then, we can give Him a few pointers. Here is the kicker, we don’t think He can do it without US.
In a moment, the waves were still. He could have led the boat to shore through the storm but the disciples needed a lesson on just HOW GREAT and HOW POWERFUL and HOW IN CONTROL their God was. So Jesus SPOKE and nature listened.
So, what is the answer to my “controlling” nature…surrender.
Not an easy word for someone like me; but when we have a God like our God, it should be our first response! So we finally surrender and hand all the control over to HIM, only to then have God gently remind us in His kind way…that we never really had control in the first place.
Dear God,
I find myself in a constant battle for control. I confess the times I try to do it all on my own. I release any fears I hold onto and surrender my day and all the circumstances it may hold into Your hands. Thank You that you are a God that can be trusted and that as I trust you with control you fill me with peace. Thank You that your plans for me are higher and greater than I could even think or imagine and no good thing will you withhold from those that love thy law!
