Who is in Control?

God is my Father, He loves me, I shall never think of anything He will forget, why should I worry? –Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest

One of my constant battles as I try to live in relationship with Jesus is the concept of control. As much as I want to depend on Jesus, the illusion that I’m in control sneaks back into my life. I live like the responsibility lies on my shoulders. What if I make the wrong decision? What if I go the wrong direction? What if I step outside of God’s will?

It’s exhausting to believe it’s all up to me. And it puts me in the center—instead of God.

My favorite devotional book is My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers. Chambers does not mince words, and his words often challenge my comfortable, “Christian” life. Chambers points out that God is in control of everything and we must develop an attitude of trust and rest.

Nothing happens in any particular unless God’s will is behind it, therefore you can rest in perfect confidence in Him. –Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest

It’s difficult for me to remove myself from the equation and “rest in perfect confidence” in Jesus. I want to believe that God is in control—even when I make mistakes. I have to believe he is sovereign—regardless of my missteps. Otherwise, I make God too small.

God is the one in control. I can run around each day with a fretting and anxious heart trying to make the right decisions. Or I can choose to rest in the confidence that…

He is faithful,

He is big enough to redeem all things,

He is worthy of my trust.

And even when I fail to trust him, his sovereign plan is never in question.

Do you struggle with giving up control? I would love to hear your tips for learning to rest in God.

Copyright Allison @ Anointed With Grace, 2011

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