Do you remember the moment you realised you needed to surrender control? That maybe you didn’t have as much control as you thought?
One particular incident stands out for me.
It was my son’s first day of daycare. I had taken a 6-month maternity leave to enjoy a special bonding time at home with him. This was a trial run to see how things would go before I headed back to work.
It was nerve-racking! I remember driving to a nearby parking lot to compose myself.
I sat in my car and sobbed. And I prayed.
That’s when it hit me.
Here I was handing my baby boy over to someone else’s care. How could I possibly surrender control to a stranger?
What made it so difficult was this: somehow I believed that I was the one who kept my newborn safe.
What I didn’t see until then was that it wasn’t me who protected him. It was God. God was the one who watched over him and kept him safe all along. God was the one who was in control. Not me.
The control that I thought I had was really, well…quite frankly, insignificant.
Ouch!
That was a humbling thought. And it’s a lesson I’ve had to learn again and again.
Like when I woke up to the news that overnight Britain had left the European Union. As a British citizen (living outside of the UK), I was confused about what the implications were. Yet in a swift move it felt like the world had changed around me and there was nothing I could do.
Surrender control.
Or there was that time last year when months of hospital visits led to something I feared most — the death of a loved one. Try as I might, I could not change the outcome.
Surrender control.
And more recently, the police shootings of black men in the US and the retaliation that followed. Unfortunate and disturbing, but again, out of my control.
Surrender control.
All of these incidents pointed to one thing. There is a bigger power at work. And this power does not rest with me.
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Had it not been for Christ and His Word, all of this would be discouraging. Instead they point me to a hope that I can’t help but cling to.
I admit that I don’t have the answers about why things happen beyond our control but Psalm 33:20-21 gives me hope:
We wait in hope for the Lord;
    he is our help and our shield.
In him our hearts rejoice,
    for we trust in his holy name.Psalm 33:20-21
God is our help and shield. He is worthy to be trusted.
When I left my baby at the daycare centre that first morning, IÂ entrusted him to a trustworthy God. And God has shown Himself faithful time and again.
When situations spin out of control, no matter their magnitude, I must also surrender control to God.
The same God who controls the stars, the moon, the earth and everything in it, is certainly able to take care of me.
Prayer:
Father, you are worthy to be praised. You have set the heavens in place, yet you take time to consider my every need. God, I am humbled by your love and your mercy.
There are times I feel so small, insignificant and helpless. Father, please remind that it is when I am weak that you are strong. Help me to rely on you and trust you, especially when life seems difficult or unfair. Let me trust you with the big things and the small things. Because God, there is nothing in my life that you consider too small.
You are the same God who takes care of the birds of the air and I know Father that you will take care of me too. Help me to surrender control utterly and completely to you because of your great love for me.
I’m so grateful that you answer my prayer even before I speak it and that even now, you grant me your peace. Â In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
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What about you?
In what area of your life do you need to surrender control today?
Wishing you blessings,Â
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Beautiful, Marva. Surrendering control is difficult for me. Like you, however, God presents situation after situation to teach me that life is best lived when we are yielded. When we do finally yield, what great peace we have! It’s like we think we have peace when we pursue control, but it’s the opposite. Praying blessings on you, my friend!
We’re in this together, Dianne. Let’s continue to encourage each other, stay in the Word and present ourselves daily before God. As the scripture says: He will keep in perfect peace, him whose mind is stayed on Him.
Blessings to you, my friend.
Such a great post Marva! I’m learning that the key to facing fear is surrendering my need to control and trust in God.
Exactly, Valerie. And for some strange reason I’m learning the same lesson again and again. Haha. 🙂
Let’s keep encouraging each other to grow in our trust and we’ll get there. God is so faithful and patient.
This is a prayer that I need to pray, daily. Your words really touched my heart and challenged me. Thank you for linking with Grace and Truth last week. I would love to feature this post tomorrow.
I’m so pleased that it touched you, Dawn because God knows I need this too. Of course I’d be honoured to have it featured at Grace & Truth!
Thank you, dear friend.
Definitely something I needed to hear this morning! I am one of those “control freaks” and find it so difficult to surrender what control I THINK I have. Thank you for reminding me that I don’t have any at all! God is faithful to take care of me.
I’m so glad this spoke to you, Sarah. This is definitely an area that God is working on in me. And you’re right He is faithful all the time, so the sooner we learn to let go, the better for us.
Thanks for taking the time to visit and share your #sparkle.
I had to learn this lesson when my kids left home. Am still learning, truthfully. It’s what keeps me up at night, sometimes. But God has a bigger picture and I must trust and surrender, as you said. Thanks for the sunny reminder, sweet friend! Your graphics are so so pretty!
Thanks for sharing with us over at Tuesday Talk! Lord bless you, friend.
Its always a privilege to have you visit, Ruthie. I know how busy you are staying up nights and all. 🙂
But seriously, I’m glad to hear I’m not the only one who needs to surrender in this area. And I’m so grateful that I get to learn from you in the journey.
Thanks for the kind words, my friend.
How well I remember those days of dropping off my babies. And situation after situation where I’ve been required to relinquish that control. Thanks for this reminder to turn it over to Him. (Visiting a bit late from #Grace&Truth where we were neighbors.)
You’re always welcome here, Karlene. 🙂
Certainly God is teaching me this lesson again and again. I’m stubborn that way sometimes but he is oh so gracious.
Thanks for visiting and shining with me!
I LOVE this, Marva!! You have no idea how this closely hits home right now. My son, who just turned 18, left for India a few days ago. I literally cried all day long. But God, being so faithful, comforted me all along the way. I just love how He reaches out in ways that we can’t even imagine. Thank you for this today. Visiting from Grace & Truth.
Alisa, my heart goes out to you, my friend. I’m so glad that God provided the comfort at the very time you needed it. I’m praying for your son’s safety and asking God to help you rest in confidence and hope. He’s shown himself to be faithful time and again; he will do it again.
I love Jehosphphat’s prayer when Jerusalem was surrounded by hordes of armies: “We don’t know what to do, but our eyes are on You.” May we look to Him and know there are more with us than with them.
I absolutely love that scripture, Debbie. Thank you for bringing that to mind — it’s the perfect reminder that we should look to God for hope, strength and direction. Without His guidance, I don’t know where you would be!
This was just what I needed today! It really hits home bc I’m leaving my kids with someone to go speak at a ladies retreat later this week. Thank you! Visiting from Testimony Tuesday.
I’m so glad you found this just in time, Kelly. God’s timing, like His protection is always trustworthy. I’m praying blessings over your talk at the ladies retreat. May many lives be transformed because of God’s work in your life!
Thanks for visiting from Testimony Tuesday!
I have no control and only He does. How often we forget that.
So true, Debbie. Thank God for the gentle reminders that He sends us. 🙂
Thanks for visiting, friend. Hope you have a lovely week!
Just sent my baby off to college and can really relate to all of this! Thanks for such a great reminder. On a side note, I LOVE your graphics. 🙂
Oh, Laura, my heart goes out to you. I have friends who are at that stage and I hear it’s not easy. I’m whispering a word of protection for your college student right now. It reminds me that trusting God is such an upward calling, no matter what stage in life we are.
Thanks for stopping by and sharing your sparkle with us, and for the kind words about the graphics — I’m so glad you liked them and found the post helpful.
Yes, Marva, as you know, it is a lesson I’ve had to learn over and over again, too. Thanks for the beautiful prayer and for pointing us to the comforting truth of scripture.
And oh boy, do I ever need that prayer, Carlie. God keeps teaching me over and over again. Thankfully He’s not through with me yet! 🙂
This is soooo hard for me Marva! I could relate to every word especially. But the Lord is in control. It’s so foolish for me to think I have any control at all. Thanks for this great word. I think I need to reread it often! Blessings!
It’s so comforting to know that you can relate and that I’m not alone in this, Deb. Can you imagine if God left us to our own devices to run the show. We’d be in a whole lot of trouble, wouldn’t we? He certainly knows what He’s doing by staying in charge! Let’s decide together to surrender to Him daily.