There’s a Better Solution to Uncertainty Than Control

I’m a control freak. 

I do my best to give the impression of being laid back and unbothered by life’s circumstances, but those who know me well know my control-freak tendencies all too well. (Now that I think about it, I think those who don’t know me well see it too.)

Control (even the thought of control) is comforting, isn’t it? It puts “me” in the driver’s seat. I become the protagonist and the director of my own life script. I become the star athlete on the floor and the sideline commentator.

But control, I have to admit, is illusive (insert: “Control is an illusion” quote) and elusive (just how long are we in control for really?). And this makes control draining. It is exhausting to bear the weight of an untrue reality, with all of its daily implications. It’s like believing I’m going to empty out the growing seawater with a bucket on the sinking Titanic. It’s an exhausting exercise of futility coated in delusion. 

But there’s good news.

There’s a better solution to uncertainty than control: Yield (or surrender) to reality. 

To yield is to acknowledge the reality of God as the true protagonist of the universe. He created the universe. Created order revolves around Him, declaring his greatness and grandness. History is the canvas displaying the artistry of God’s plans. He is center-stage on the platform of existence. He is the Author, Perfector, and Sustainer of all things by the power of His Word.

To yield then also means to acknowledge that things do not revolve around me. I am not on center stage. It’s not about me. I am not the gravitational pull of existence. Others don’t exist to simply execute my desired life script.

Now, none of this feels comforting, at first. After all, this is all a direct confrontation with my own autonomy and sovereignty. But if you will sit in for a while and let it sink in, you will find yourself more comforted than any grand illusion of control. This is because comfort can only be found in reality.

Genuine comfort can only be excavated when our conscience strikes against the weight of ultimate reality. Millard J. Erickson, theologian and author of “Christian Theology,” wrote, “there is no ultimate reality other than God.” So we can live our lives trying to ignore the elephant in the room (or Divine in the universe) or we can find real peace by wrapping our lives around the One who is in control of all the matters of this world.

Isn’t this the better way? To acknowledge the true center of the world? To live in light of this in the days, months, and years ahead? But it gets better:

He is not just in control, He’s also good. He’s really good. The one who created the universe condescended to enter our world experiencing the discomforting constraints of his own created world as a human being. He lived the righteous and perfect life we couldn’t live. He died the death we were already dying, the death we should’ve died, as a substitute for the penalty for our sins. He rose again proving his life and death were effective to make us right with God, to bring us into a relationship with the one who is in control of all things.

Doesn’t this mean He has your best interest in mind?

Concluding Thoughts

No, to yield does not mean we take on an attitude of defeatism (“Why bother with life? We don’t have any control anyways!”). No, we still carefully plan out our days and steward our energies and resources for desired outcomes. God desires we fulfill the creation mandate to “exercise dominion” and cultivate beautiful things around us.

No, to yield means we plan, but we recognize, “the Lord establishes his steps” (Proverbs 16:9). This frees us to plan with passion while holding things loosely entrusting ourselves to God, and not our google calendars.

Whether in the best of circumstances or in loss, we’re invited to be re-directed to the wishes and will of our God who is grand and good.

If you’re wondering how to yield practically, here’s a little acronym you can use to mediate and/or pray out in silence, writing, or audibly to the Lord:

Year - Recount God’s faithfulness to you this year. Try to remember up to 3 things where you saw His goodness and faithfulness. Let your heart be reminded of His power and kindness.

Irritations - Be honest about your frustrations. If it’s big, God is big enough to handle it. If it’s small, He cares enough to care about it. He is not intimidated by your honesty. He can take it!

Eternity - Spend a moment and think about how long eternity will be. Take time to remember you won’t be concerned about the things you’re concerned about in 50-70 years.

Love - Take time to actively love God. Tell Him you’re grateful. Thank Him. Tell Him you love Him. Ask Him for help you obey Him.

Desires - Share honestly the desires you have in your heart.

Yielding is better than control!