Ever notice how when you’re doing a group project and your
group members aren’t taking the project as seriously as you want them to, you
get really frustrated with them? Or, at least, I do. There’s nothing worse than
getting a slacker group that doesn’t care and ending up with a terrible product
(be it grades or sales or lesson plans). It’s so frustrating because you know
you personally worked your hardest, but you don’t get the result you feel you
deserve because of other people’s laziness or incompetency.
This is one symptom of a serious problem many people face:
the need for control. I, as a self-proclaimed perfectionist, deal with this issue
ALL THE TIME. I feel a strong desire to be in control so I can manipulate all
the inputs and get exactly the output I want (which is exactly what happens in
real life, right?). If something is important to me, like preparing a special
meal for my friends, I won’t let anyone else help because I am afraid they will
mess it up, which will reflect badly on my own skills (because everyone knows friends only come over
for tasty food, not to enjoy your company).
I think a lot of the control problem is rooted in
perfectionism. Of course, it can also stem from some serious hurts that you
want to avoid ever experiencing again or a lack of trust, but those are topics
for another time. Today I want to focus on what God is teaching me about being
a control freak.
First of all, I think the need for control is in direct
opposition to a true understanding of God’s sovereignty. Isaiah 46:9-10 says, “Remember
the former things, those of long ago; I am God, and there is no other; I am
God, and there is none like me. I make known the end from the beginning, from
ancient times, what is still to come. I say: My purpose will stand, and I will
do all that I please.” It’s obvious that God has a plan, and that his plan is going to be accomplished. Therefore,
control is an illusion.
Second of all, I think the need for control is rooted in a
mistrust of God’s provision and lovingkindness. We think that because things
aren’t going the way we think they should (you don’t get that promotion, that
girl turns you down for a date, you fail that test, you don’t get on that team)
that God must not have our best interests at heart, or that he isn’t paying
attention. We think, “God’s not going to do anything, so I’ve got to get out
there and make it happen myself. After all, God helps those who help themselves,
right?” But this is a lie! Our God is a good God, and his plans are always good! Matthew 6:26-34 says,
“Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or
store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much
more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his
life? And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow.
They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his
splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of
the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he
not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, 'What
shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the
pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need
them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all
these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about
tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of
its own.”
The point of quoting this piece of Scripture is to highlight
how much God cares about his kids. When you think about how much God loves you,
and what he’s trying to accomplish in your life (that is, to make you more like
Christ), then you can take comfort in the fact that he is sovereign and
accomplishes his purpose. You don’t need to control everything! Trying to take
control away from God is like a woman trying to take the lead in a dance. In
dancing, if the lady doesn’t do her part and follow her partner’s prompting,
the dance falls apart. If the lady tries to start leading the man, then the
dance just gets downright awkward; it doesn’t flow smoothly or gracefully like
it should.
Life is like that dance. Our job is not to take control, but
to follow the cues of the One who is leading us.
No comments:
Post a Comment