1 Peter 5:6-10, Matthew 6:9-10, Matthew 7:24-29

Matt Summerfield reflects on our relationship with control and our relationship with God.

Matt Summerfield

I want to share some brief thoughts about what I've learnt about the myth of control.

I wonder if it's fair to say that all of us go through our lives - consciously or subconsciously - trying to control our world.

We know that life is hard sometimes, and yet who wants a hard life?

And so, motivated by fear and doubt we seek to control our world.

The fear of what might happen.

The doubt that God is good.

We naively think - "If I can control this circumstance or this person, then everything will be ok."

In reality, self-confidence is often arrogance and pride wrapped up in disguise.

Control is a myth.

We have no control over anything - or anyone - we struggle to even control ourselves.

Now all this might sound very negative, but in truth it's wonderfully liberating.

The sooner we admit we cannot control our world, the sooner we learn to lean in to God's grace and goodness.

Not in the sense that we expect God to fix it for us, but we recognise that whatever happens to us, God has a deeper agenda. God's priority is us...changing us.

Someone once said "God isn't at work producing the circumstances you want. God is at work in the circumstances producing the you he wants."