Friends, let’s talk about “control”. I know, it’s a sore topic for many reasons. Anyone know someone who you’ve called a “control freak”? I sure do! If I’m not careful, I can quickly move into a place of being controlling. In fact, when I fail to put God first in my life, I tend to be more moved to control. Why is this?
One thing I’ve learned in this life, is that none of us really have control. We actually don’t have control over anything. This is today’s heavy dose of truth. We can be helicopter parents and never let our kids out of our sight, but this doesn’t promise us healthy and well behaved kids. We can constantly check our spouses phones and harass them about “Who their talking to and where they’re at every moment?”, but this doesn’t promise a faithful spouse. We can buy people wonderful presents in the hopes that they stick around and love us, but it doesn’t promise true friendship. We can have fire alarms in every room and constantly check our outlets, but it doesn’t promise a fire won’t break out in our home. We can wear masks and get every vaccine in the world, but it doesn’t promise us we won’t get sick.
We can worry, worry, worry in this life; But it will not alter any outcomes. Sadly, many believe the “worrying” protects us from danger… But, all this does is make us anxious, stressed, overwhelmed, and actually reveals that inside we feel completely out of control regarding our life circumstances. Do you know that “worrying” is simply us attempting to take control over what we feel is out of our control?
What are we to do in a world where we have limited control over what happens around us? I have the answers. Actually, God has the answers and I’ve borrowed these truths for this post.
- We can trust God! We can rest knowing that He loves us, died for us, and our eternity is in His hands. We can rest knowing that… “We will face trials and pain on this Earth, but we will never endure a trial alone!” This is absolute fact! Even when we feel alone, we’re never alone! God is always with us! “God with us!”
The Bible says “In this world, you WILL face trials. But, take heart I have overcome the world!” God is always with us and he has already overcome sin and death on our behalf. We have this promise, no matter what we endure on this Earth.
- We can trust thay God is watching over us and He cares about every detail of our life; our health, our marriages, our children, our relationships, our careers, our life choices and decisions, our needs, and even our desires. So often I’ve witnessed close calls in my life, my family’s lives, and that of my friends. God is watching over us! He really is! Pay attention to the everyday little miracles and protections. Write them down. In no time, we will begin to see clearly that God is present among us!
- We can be wise stewards of our own life, our marriage, our children’s lives, our resources, and all that God has blessed us with. We can take care of our body’s and take care of the temple God has given us. We can put boundaries up in our marriage for an extra guard against temptation. We can be involved and present in our Children’s lives and put into place healthy boundaries in love. We can be loving, supportive, and encouraging friends. Who doesn’t want this? We can put into place a level of security by simply being wise over the blessings and resources we’ve been given.
These are the 3 things we can control! Praise God!
At the end of the day, even if we try to control our world’s, we have little control. The best way to ensure the best life… and it will never be an easy life, is to remain focused on God and remain close to Him. This is the recipe for a victorious life in Christ!
1 John 5:4 “for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.”
God provides an entire chapter that informs us how to overcome and face the lack of control in our lives. I am thankful for His word and the way it provides hope, assurance, and gives us the answers to every question and concern in our lives.
Ephesians 6:8-10 “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.”
We do have control over our lives… But it’s not the kind of control we usually implement into our lives. The control we have is to actively obey and love God and to do His will! We aren’t promised a pain free life, but we are absolutely promised a victorious life! A victorious life is a life lived in obedience, love, and admiration of our Lord and Savior!
Who doesn’t want a victorious life?
Friends, I pray this message was encouraging and uplifting to you! It’s a lesson I’m continually learning over and over and over again. When God is at the center of our lives, we are victorious, we are conquerers through Him! Let’s switch our need to control, to a need to love and serve God! There’s nothing better than the blessing of moving away from “controlling” to “conquerer”, through Christ! This is where true joy, peace, and contentment is found.
Blessings, Crystal Ridlon, LMHC, LPC
The Flame Within 
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