Christian Control Freaks

Do you know what God and control freaks have in common? They both love you and have a wonderful plan for your life.

This control thing may not set well with God. We know He makes plans for us. “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future'” (Jeremiah 29:11). Still, we pray, “Lord, bless what I am doing,” instead of “Lord, help me do what you are blessing.”

What if my plans and God’s don’t coincide? This is one of the problems we have in giving God unconditional trust, isn’t it? He might take away something we love, or not give us something we want. What if our plans clash with His? We have a big problem trusting God when we want to be in control!

I know Job said, “Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him” (Job 13:15). Yet, my greatest fear is that God will want my life before I’m ready to give it; or, that he will allow someone dear to me to die before I’m ready to let them go.

I don’t know if I’m ready to let God control the Universe. In Mere Christianity, C.S. Lewis quotes a schoolboy who was asked what God was like. The boy responded, “The sort of person who is always snooping around to see if anyone is enjoying himself, and then trying to stop it”. That answer speaks to our fear. We think life is too good. I’m enjoying myself too much. Soon, God is going to put the brakes on. It’s frightening to place complete trust in God at any given time when we know His plans may differ from ours.

Oswald Chambers wrote, “Faith never knows where it is being led, but it loves and knows the One who is leading.” Total surrender is the goal we must seek. We need to know the One who is in control. Trust him. Love him. Understand that our ways are not always his ways. His are better. If you’re a control freak, turn loose and let God lead.