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real light living

Handing Over Control

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“I love the uncertainty of what’s ahead as long as I’m in the security of God’s hands.” 
– Beth Moore, “James: Mercy Triumphs” 
 
I like change. 
 
Ahem. I should clarify.
 
I like change that I have control over and know that the end result will benefit yours truly. Change is good. I heard once that you should change your hairstyle if you’ve gone 3 months without someone complimenting you on how your hair looks. Easy. I change my nail polish weekly. In fact, I couldn’t choose a color this last time so every fingernail hitting this laptop keyboard is different. Changing clothes can take me from a “blah” mood to feeling fabulous and ready to take on the world. A change of scenery can give me new perspective on a situation I’m going through. Living in PA I get to be blessed by the change of seasons and nothing thrills me more to move from icky hot summer into gorgeous cool fall. Bring on the pumpkin spice lattes, football games & fires.
 
But if I’m going to be honest with you (and we know I can’t be any other way), real – significant – change scares me. The kind of change that you have no control over, no idea what the end will be, and certainly no clue about what outfit you should wear when it’s all said and done. 
 
 
I would avoid the scary changes if I could. I would do everything to stay in my comfort zone at home, at work, at church, and with friends. I would never have to go through uncertainty at work, not knowing where I’ll be working, who I’ll report to, or what I’ll be doing. I wouldn’t have to wonder why God might be calling us away from our church – with no idea what the future would hold. It would all be wrapped up, status quo….and probably really really boring.
 
My posts here at Allume seem to have a theme where I share the baby steps I’m taking in my walk with Christ. This is one of the big ones for me. Convincing my Type-A, controlling heart to trust that God has the best plan for me. That I can walk into uncertainty with excitement because I know that the God of the universe has gone before me and nothing surprises Him. I can walk confidently. I can pursue what He has put on my heart without fear. I can write that song He put in my heart, I can wake up early to be in His Word (even though I’m NOT a morning person), I can do the hard thing and be ok with change because my God will hold me in His hand.
 
And friend? He’s got you, too. 
 
Whatever change you have going on in your life right now, you are not going through it all by yourself. The struggles, questions, fears, uncertainty – practice giving it over to God’s quite capable hands. I’ll be there with you – handing over a piece of control at a time, praying my way through it. Praying for you, through it. 
 
It’s easy to be excited about changing your hairstyle. Let’s pray for each other that we would learn to be as confident through the big stuff – and that how we handle those situations would shine the Father’s grace & glory on those around us. 
 
How can we pray for you today?

Comments

  1. Great, timely article Crystal!

    In my 28 years of marriage, I’ve been physically moved, on average, every 3 years! Even when we had nearly free company housing! Even when my husband worked for the same company for 18 years!

    Now we are in the midst of another season of move! Same company, new job title, farther away from grandkids and a wonderful church family where He placed me in a cocoon of friends, fellowship, and ministry. I had work to do here! It’s not finished, but He’s moving us anyways; proving His will by selling our home in less than a month. Finding us purchasing a new one, new neighbors, new church, new routine… I have NO idea what I will do! No one has said “we’ve prayed for 2 years for someone like you to come and fill this space…”. I feel lost!

    Just as the change here was new, God confirmed in many ways that it was His will. This time it’s new clues to His confirming approval. I don’t know what lies ahead, but I trust Him with the future. With MY future. My life is for Him to use anyways, so I’d better stay flexible!

    Thanks for the good reminder that HE IS in control!

  2. This was exactly what I needed to read this morning! I am a crazed type A control freak, and it is really hard for me to surrender my plan and idea of how life should be going for the plan of God–even though I know His is always better than mine! I like to have things planned out and organized. Right now my husband and I are entering a new season of life with so many unknowns, and it is causing some friction to my “must have things planned out and color coordinated” self! Thanks for this encouragement and reminder that God has a plan, and he’s way more organized and together than I could ever be. I needed these words this morning!

    • Praying for all the unknowns, that God would give you peace about the road ahead, confidence to lay those decisions at His feet and freedom from trying to control it all. Even though I’m pretty Type A myself, I occasionally crave the rest that comes with letting someone else make the decisions for awhile!

  3. I, too, think I embrace change until I am challenged in a big way. Then it is back into the safe bubble of the comfort zone for me! I always appreciate the reminder that He walks with us through everything He brings us to. That is much more comforting than the sometimes stifling confines of the bubble!

  4. I remember last Spring, I was about to graduate, had just had a baby, and we were trying to move home to MS. Only my husband didn’t have a job here and it looked like we were going to be “stuck” in TX. I felt like my life was heading for a big black hole of unknowns. But of course God faithfully brought us through–and taught us so much in the waiting. Change is hard but good. Thanks for this today!

    • Love this story – thanks so much for sharing this part of your journey! It’s always so rewarding to look back and see where God has been faithful when we just get out of the way 🙂 (a reminder to myself!)

  5. Wow does this hit home or what. I’ve been writing on letting go of control on my own blog as well. There is SO MUCH out of my control right now and I forget that it’s not out of God’s control. I tend to overcompensate; that is, I’ll stress insanely over the small things I CAN control just because the things I can’t control are overwhelming. Thank you for the reminder that even I can’t control these situations, God can.

    • Usually when I get to the “overwhelmed by change” point, I start cleaning. Or organizing. Or just trying to control SOMETHING! I’m with you – it’s so hard, isn’t it? But I’m so thankful in the big changes for a God who not only CAN handle it, but wants me to give it to Him!

  6. Change has been the norm for me for quite a few years now. I’m learning to hold very loosely to my plans (even when I believe that it’s exactly what God wants me to do), but I’m finding it’s just as difficult to balance trusting God and holding loosely to plans, as it is to balance trusting God and holding tightly to plans. Thankfully God always reminds me to simply trust Him.
    (http://continualtransiton.wordpress.com)

    • It’s a really hard balance, especially in a world that tells us we’re supposed to be able to control it all – to figure out how much to plan, and be active, and how much to step back. Thanks so much for sharing!

  8. Thanks, Crystal, I needed to be reminded that I am in His hands no matter what comes…Blessings to you 🙂

  9. I was literally thinking these exact same thoughts earlier today. I’ve moved a lot and I like the “new” of it all. But when I don’t like change is when I have fully developed expectations of a situation. Like I have any control over that at all. Thanks for these words, friend.

  10. Great post Crystal! I NEEDED to hear this! I have wrapped myself up in the hurtful situations of this past year (2 pregnancy losses) and have been (from my doing so) held captive to it, letting it “control” me in a way… hurting myself even more, those around me, and not letting the Lord be in control. I can say all day long that His plans are better, and I really believe so but my flesh just couldn’t let go…. so many fears (what if I never have another baby… that I so desperately want) but this week I know that I need to break the chains of doubtfulness and let God lead and my husband and NOT the pain!
    This post is truly timely for me as is the song “The hurt & the Healer collide” even thought I have heard it several times but… I heard that this morning once again Praying I can give the Lord my hurts and He can sustain me! Hope to meet you and the all these other great ladies at Allume this year!

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