To say that God is in control is one thing; to live that truth is quite another. Stuff happens. Life gets messy and is unpredictable. Cars crash. People gossip. Hearts break. The list of what might go wrong is endless. But God is bigger.

Here’s the thing. I can not plan for every variable, no matter how much I try. I can’t see the full picture while standing right here at this moment. All I can do is guess, and guessing leads to worry. And who by worrying has ever added a day to their life (see Matthew 6:27)?

The world can be a scary place, and once we experience one pain we want to guard against the next. But you and I weren’t called to build walls; we were called to tear them down. We weren’t called to control who sits at our table, but to build bigger tables. Jesus constantly rebuked the religious authorities who held on to rules above compassion. They attempted to steer life and culture toward rigid perfection that fit their own definition. They held tight to control. When Jesus told them to hand it over, they tightened their grip and missed that the Messiah they had been waiting for was standing face-to-face with them. 

We hold on so tightly to our children, our careers and our dreams that we miss the blessings God has for us. When we guard our hearts against pain, we are inadvertently shielding it against all other feelings as well. 

Have you handed control over to God? No matter what you are having a difficult time letting go of, remember that God can see far beyond our limited scope.