“Let’s Tempt Faith” || Release What You’re Not in Control Of || Week 1

It’s time for a brand-new series! I had such a fun time writing the “Anxiety in Anxious Times” series that I had to write another. Now what could I write about? How about something that I struggle with. It’s control. I am a control freak and like to have control over most of what I do and for some reason, some of what I can’t do. I’m writing this during COVID-19 pandemic, so there’s a ton of things regarding the current situation that’s outside of my control. Because I like to control things, my anxiety is up, my depression is up, and I don’t quite know what to do. It hit hard when all this started, but I have gotten to a way better headspace as of writing this while still dealing with slight mood changes from time-to-time. So, what’s the point of all this?

I’m writing this to try and help others deal with their possible control struggles. I will be doing so through scripture and personal testimony. I will be talking about a variety of control topics, ending with talking about how God is still in control at all times. Now, you may question why should I, a person who struggles with control, talk about control help for others. I feel like sometimes you can’t see the solution until you talk about the problem. I said I will only use personal testimony, so not only will I try to talk through my own problems, but hopefully help you if you are struggling with control.

So let’s sit back, relax, grab a drink, take a deep breath, and dive into Part 1 of the series, “Release What You’re Not In Control Of”. This week we’re diving into the book of 1 Corinthians to see where Paul talks about control. I’m calling today’s message, “Let’s Tempt Faith”.

1 Corinthians 10:13 says: “The only temptations that you have are the same temptations that all people have. But you can trust God. He will not let you be tempted more than you can bear. But when you are tempted, God will also give you a way to escape that temptation. Then you will be able to endure it.” What a way to start the conversation on control. By talking about our temptations. Temptations are defined as: “the desire to do something, especially something wrong or unwise.” So we are tempted by wanting to do something, especially something that is wrong or unwise. I would say that one of those temptations is control. We want to control EVERYTHING because that’s just what humans do. We have this innate nature to want to have some semblance of control over what we can and can’t control. I’ve often said that’s why God works in the background because if he didn’t we would try and input our own control on what He’s doing in our lives. Wanting to control something is a temptation all of us deal with, but Paul says we can still trust God. God won’t let us be tempted with more than we can bear. The correct translation instead of: “God won’t give us more than we can handle.” You heard me right! God won’t let us be tempted with the sense of control more than we can bear. What’s that mean? Time for a new paragraph…

God won’t let us be tempted with a sense of control more than we can bear. Isn’t that an interesting sentence. He won’t LET US be tempted by controlling things more than we can bear. We can’t be tempted by control because GOD DOESN’T LET US! How cool is that? Some of you are questioning me already, which is fine! We can let that temptation drown us and be inundated with wanting to control things we can – and can’t – control, but trusting and believing God doesn’t allow that. Paul continues by saying that when we are tempted; when we are tempted with wanting to control something, that God gives us the out! God gives us the way of releasing the temptation of control, and that’s by our trust. We trust in him with what we’re trying to control and then can walk away in faith with this temptation. So what do I mean?

God wants us to release the control to him. To let him take the wheel and have us slide to the passenger seat so that He can continue to guide our life for the purpose He’s designed it for. He’s giving us this release from the temptation of control because we don’t need to control EVERYTHING! I know, it’s a scary thought for some of us to realize that we don’t need to control everything. For me, it’s too tiresome to control everything. I can barely function on a daily level controlling my own life, which makes me think I can control everything. I can’t! Plain and simple. Trying to control everything is impossible. We can’t control things that we don’t own up to. I can’t control the pandemic, how it spreads, how its affecting people, how its killing friends, family, and loved, the ability to get the vaccine, the ability to get back to work. I CAN’T DO IT! I want to go back to my office! I want to go back to my regular life without fear of catching the disease! I can’t control when or how that will happen though, so why am I freaking out about it. God’s given me an out QUIT TRYING TO CONTROL EVERYTHING! It’s trust. Trusting in him that he will worry about the other stuff. That he will take care of the pandemic and everything surrounding it so that I can focus on me. I can focus on my perception of what’s going on and the ability to control my perspective. Control my perspective??? I thought this message was about releasing the temptation of control! Let’s wrap this up by returning to the scripture one more time.

Look at the end of 1 Corinthians 10:13: “…God will also give you a way to escape temptation. Then you will be able to endure it.” Ohhhhhhhh…now I see what this guy’s been rambling on about. We need to give the temptation of release what I’m not control of (isn’t that his sermon series title) and focus on enduring what I can control. It all makes sense. I pray that throughout this week, you talk to God about your want to control. To give to him all the things that are causing you anxiety because you can’t control it and ask for clarity on what you can control. It’s not easy and it won’t change overnight, but it’s an easy thing to start. Thank you for checking out Week One of “Release What You’re Not In Control Of”. We’re here for six more weeks, so I hope you’re ready. Have a great week and stay blessed!