I’m a planner. I like to know details, and for important things, always have a method to succeed. I’m okay with being flexible and adjusting as needed. But if I can be prepared, I will be…with any possible scenario. Just call me the “mom friend” of the group, packing extra of everything in case we need it while we’re out.
For the first time ever, I had packing anxiety with this trip. Normally I’m all ready to go days in advance, but the day before we left, I procrastinated like no other. I did some research and learned that my action was rooted in having a lack of control. Why now?
Perhaps because I was traveling so much this summer. Or maybe because I didn’t know what to expect this time. I had never been to Puerto Rico, nor had I gone on a mission trip before.
I couldn’t control the weather. I couldn’t control how our plans would play out. I couldn’t control if I’d have steady Internet to take care of something important (like conference registration). And I couldn’t control if something unexpected were to happen. But I could plan what I brought along to make it a better experience.
But what I learned is that there’s a difference between healthy planning and unhealthy control.
Planning allows us to be prepared for what comes our way. When done right, it’s helpful to make the most of what God gives us.
Control, on the other hand, is something we never have but somehow keep striving for. It’s an illusion, my friend. Only God is in control. And while He gives us free will, He never promises full control.
We see God give man free will as early as Genesis 1. He gives Adam choices and freedom within God-given boundaries.
But, we are never entitled to control. We can plan our paths, but the Lord is the one who directs us. Proverbs 16:9 says “The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.”
As in my previous post on dependence, we aren’t meant to do this life alone. God doesn’t give us control because we are made to depend on Him as our Source.
The trip was filled with divine encounters. We deviated from the schedule, adjusting based on the weather, and served according to the needs of the people. We planned well for this trip and all that it was, but we couldn’t control the outcome of our work. That part required dependence on God. We saw salvations and lives changed, not by our own doing, but by God using us.
Maybe control a pride thing. We feel important and authoritative when we can work out details and oversee things. Maybe it’s a leadership thing. We want to lead as we want, so we try to micromanage every last detail. Or maybe it’s fear. We worry too much about the outcomes, so we try to control what we can.
No matter where we find ourselves today, we can surrender control to God. His ways are always better (Isaiah 55:8-9). And while we can plan effectively, let’s leave room for the Lord to lead. He is the One who directs our paths (Proverbs 3:5-6).
When we relinquish our false sense of control, we make room to see God move in mighty ways.
Consider the Joy 
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