Following God can be challenging for those of us who love control. We know who we are—the ones who like to drive the bus, plan outings with friends, and strive for perfection and excellence. Loving control can manifest in many ways, but as believers, we must stay aware of our tendency to seek and cling to control.
Often, in an effort to “know what’s going on” or “get ahead of problems,” we start mapping out our course, planning every step, and looking for signs that we’re on the right path. This approach can extend even to our ministry or our pursuit of God’s will for our future. Without realizing it, we may become too controlling, even in the plans we’re making for His Kingdom. If we’re not careful, we can quickly attempt to take the reins from our Creator. Surrendering my will to His is often challenging and confusing for me.
In truth, we don’t want to be caught off guard. We might stay up late at night, trying to think through every possible scenario and outcome. We tell ourselves that if we can foresee all potential problems, we can preve
nt them. Right? Wrong.
Resting in God’s plan and allowing His Spirit to order our steps may sound peaceful, but for me, it’s not always easy. It requires daily sacrifice—laying my need for control on the altar. What about you?
We must ensure that we seek first His Kingdom and trust that all other things will be added to us (Matthew 6:33). Now, let’s be clear: I’m not saying we should avoid planning altogether and just sit around waiting for things to happen. What I am saying is that while we may have plans in our hearts, we must always remember that it’s the LORD who establishes our steps, not the other way around.
May our trust be in Almighty God, the Creator of Heaven and Earth, the Savior of the world, and not in our personal plans—even when those plans seem good and God-honoring.
He has the final say. Our call is to pursue Him, to seek peace, to seek Him first, and to use our gifts. The plan is not the call—Jesus is.
