There’s an interesting dichotomy here… first, without self control we end up hurting ourselves and others. But, when we become overly controlling of ourselves or others, it’s an indication that we are not trusting God nor the people around us! I love Proverbs 3:5, “Trust the Lord with allyour heart…” If you see yourself being a control freak, consider implementing these strategies for developing the right perspective on being in control.
1) Understand that you are not an independent, self-reliant person. Jesus described His people, us!, as sheep. Sheep are pretty helpless animals— they need LOTS of attention and care. We need to look to our heavenly Father for our care.
2) When the unexpected happens, work on responding calmly. God is never taken by surprise; we shouldn’t be either. If we trust in His care, we can stay calm knowing that He is going to work things out for our good. Take a deep breath to slow down the adrenaline, say a short prayer… then turn the problem over to God.
3) Focus on the internal and leave the external to God. We need to settle in our minds that we cannot control most external events… only the internal response to those events. When you come to that realization, you’ll be better able to stop stressing out over the uncontrollable.
Learn to relax and start trusting God— He knows what He’s doing and He has our best interests at heart!
