Surrendering control to God is not something that we think about daily. I take control often, and it is a struggle to surrender many things in my life back to God. How can we learn to surrender control to God instead?
Does Surrendering Control to God mean everything?
God gave us life and the freedom to do life. The freedom that God has given us is expansive. There are so many choices that we can make each day. Some of those choices are: when to get up, what to do for the day, what to wear or eat, and what way to drive to work or take the day off. We have many freedoms to do what we want.
However, when it comes to large decisions, we should bring God into the decision to determine whether it is His will for us or not. And there are specific commands that we need to obey and stay within those guidelines. If we do not, then there are consequences for not obeying.
2 Reasons Why We Take Control
1. Rebellion
If we have asked God for insight about a decision, we may take over control when we haven’t heard from God on the topic.
This is what I found was true in my situation. Most of the jobs I have held in the past 35 years did not bring me contentment. I enjoyed some of the work but was not truly happy either. Some of them I took without consulting God. Or I consulted Him, and since He seemed silent, I took that to mean He wasn’t answering, so I should take the job anyway. Silence can mean He doesn’t want you to go down that path. If you feel unsettled and lack peace about the decision, you shouldn’t move in that direction.
Taking control from God happens when it is a decision we have a defined direction from God (i.e. marriage to an unbeliever); it is rebellion, which is resisting control to authority.
Rebellion is disobedience against God’s commands and the best for us. We have chosen not to believe what He has said is the best for us.
So how can this affect our contentment?
Your contentment is greatly affected whenever you are doing the opposite of what God wants for you. You take control and do your own thing. You will be unsatisfied with what you do for work because it isn’t God’s best plan for you.
2. Unbelief or Lack of Trust
God desires all to come to Him. This is His will for all of humanity. He wants to spend time with us now and for all of eternity. However, God doesn’t demand us to choose to spend time with Him. He gives us free will to choose Him or not.
While not choosing God could be a form of rebellion, this choice is unbelief at the root of it all.
And believers can experience a time of lack of trust or unbelief that God has the best plans for them.
God is our sovereign God and rules over all the nations We don’t need to fret about wars, etc. He is in control, and we don’t need to worry.
Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!
Psalm 46:10
Surrendering
Control to God:
When Is it Needed?
1. Choosing to Believe in Jesus
When we realize our need for God and accept Jesus as our Savior, we surrender our lives to God.
This is a time of realizing that we cannot do this life on our own. And when we choose to believe in Jesus, we ask Him to take control of our lives.
When we do this, we are given the Holy Spirit that Jesus said He’d give the disciples after He left the earth (John 14:16 ESV). This is the same Holy Spirit given to people when Paul and Barnabas shared the gospel with the people at Antioch.
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2. Choosing to Surrender Control to God’s Plan
When we have been operating in unbelief or lacking trust in God’s plan, this is another situation where we need to choose to surrender to God. His ways and thinking are different than ours.
Surrender control to Him.
“‘For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,’ declares the Lord. ‘For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.’”
Isaiah 55:8-9 ESV
This is where I was a few years ago when my job changed. I realized I was on a path I had chosen because I didn’t believe God had the best plan for me. He was silent, and I thought I knew the better path to take.
My focus was on the tasks ahead and how I could get ahead. I had a selfish ambition. And I wasn’t content with my situation. Instead, I needed to cease striving and strive to glorify God in my work. He would tell me when it was time to move or do something different.
Summary of Surrendering Control to God
Surrendering control to God doesn’t mean we don’t have control of the small and big things in our lives. God gives us a choice in how we live our lives and whether we want to accept the gift of eternal life and spend time in His presence daily. Taking control from God can mean rebellion against His authority or unbelief, or a lack of trust in His best plan for us. We can choose to surrender our life to Him and make Him the Lord of our life. And when we choose to go off on our own, we can willingly surrender control to God and His plan. And when we do this, we will experience peace and contentment.
