Do We Really Want Control?

Some precious time with my one-year-old grandson has provided some great spiritual analogies. We’ve been watching Baby Shark, of course, and he loves to get his hands on the remote. Occasionally, I let him have a go at it. He hits buttons left and right, enjoying the control, until frustration hits. He inadvertently mutes his favorite part, departs Netflix to land in Hulu, and goes to settings I didn’t even know existed. When in control, he is not happy with the results. He’s not old enough to comprehend the cause and effect, but we should be, spiritually speaking.

We have times when we think we want control; for things to go a certain way. Why isn’t God answering this prayer this way, or stopping that thing from happening, or holding back that thing for which we are asking? Sometimes I want to “grab the remote.” I want to force something instead of allowing my Father’s plan to unfold. It does not bring Him joy, and leaves me frustrated and unfulfilled. We think we want control, but we do not! And He knows it.

He assures us in Romans 8:28,

“And we know that for those who love God

all things work together for good,

for those who are called according to his purpose.”

So let’s rest and watch our Father’s plan unfold for His glory and our good with hopeful expectation that great Kingdom gain will be achieved. In those times we would rather fast forward, rewind, or change the channel, let’s just trust that He will use it all as a part of the ultimate story. When we abide in Christ to hear and obey, we leave all things up to our Father’s control resting that He is working in us what is best.