Control feels safe… until life reminds us how little we actually have. We schedule, plan, and strategize as if we are the authors of tomorrow. Yet all it takes is one unexpected phone call, one illness, or one closed door for everything to unravel. The truth is simple: we were never in control in the first place.
The Lie We Tell Ourselves
We convince ourselves that control equals peace. If we can manage every detail, then nothing bad will happen. But control is not peace, it is fear in disguise. The more we try to hold everything together, the more fragile we become when things slip through our hands.
“Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.”Proverbs 19:21
Our plans can be smart and well intentioned, but if they are built on the illusion of control, they crumble the moment God allows life to take a turn.
When Control Slips Through Our Fingers
Loss, failure, and sudden change expose the myth of control. We realize quickly that we are not as strong or steady as we thought. Too often we build a fragile faith. We trust God when He agrees with our plans, then question His goodness when He does not.
“Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring.”Proverbs 27:1
Tomorrow is not ours. It never was. Control feels protective, but it quietly imprisons us in fear of losing what we think we own.
The Freedom of Surrender
The opposite of control is not chaos. It is surrender. God never asked us to orchestrate everything. He asked us to trust Him. True peace is found in open hands, not clenched fists.
“Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.”1 Peter 5:7
When we stop clinging, we discover that God’s will is better than ours, even when it looks different than what we expected.
Control was never the goal. Trust was.
A Practical Shift
Letting go is a practice. Try these simple shifts:
- Pray first, then plan.
- Write goals in pencil, not stone.
- Say “If the Lord wills” before committing to tomorrow (James 4:15).
- When fear rises, remind your heart that control was never yours to lose.
Closing Reflection
The illusion of control is exactly that: an illusion. It promises security but delivers fear. Real peace begins the moment we release our grip and trust the One who has always been in control.
Choose trust today.
In Luminance 