5/14/25 Letting Go of Control
Fr. Patrick Bush- 3 days ago
- 3 min read
Takeaway: Surrendering every area of life to God.
Jesus said, “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?” — Matthew 6:25-27
Opening Prayer (Wednesday)
Father, in the middle of this week, I lean on You for strength. When I am weary, be my rest. When I am uncertain, be my guide. Refresh my soul as I draw near to You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Reflection
Letting go of control is one of the most difficult and, at the same time, most liberating acts of faith. In Matthew 6:25–27, Jesus speaks directly to the anxious heart by reminding his listeners not to worry for God will provide. His words confront the illusion that we can hold everything together through planning, effort, or sheer willpower. He challenged the deeply ingrained belief that we are safer when we’re in control. Rather, clinging to control often leads us into greater fear and anxiety; it rarely leads to peace. Jesus wasn’t just offering advice; He is inviting us to surrender; to release our grip on the things we were never meant to carry alone.
Surrendering is not about passivity or carelessness; it is about trust. To surrender every area of life to God means we believe He is more capable of managing our futures than we are. It means laying down our timelines, expectations, fears, and plans by entrusting them into the hands of the One who sees the whole picture. When we attempt to control everything, we often act from fear, and we exhaust our strength trying to protect ourselves from pain, uncertainty, or failure. But Jesus reminds us that worry changes nothing. It cannot add time to our lives; it only drains the time we have.
Letting go of control, also, doesn’t mean life becomes easier or more predictable. It means we learn to rest in God’s sufficiency rather than our own strength. Jesus uses the imagery of birds and flowers to drive home the point. The birds do not store up wealth, and the flowers do not toil for beauty, yet God cares for them. How much more will He care for us, His beloved children? This doesn’t mean we stop planning or acting responsibly. It means we release the anxiety that comes from trying to hedge our bets on the outcomes.
Question
What fears are at the root of your desire to manage everything on your own?
Application
Today, take time to name one area where you’re holding on tightly—whether it’s your future, finances, family, or something else. Write a prayer of surrender for that area and place it somewhere you’ll see daily. When anxiety rises, pause and pray, “God, I trust You with this.”
Closing Prayer
Lord, I confess that I often try to control what I cannot. I carry burdens I was never meant to bear. Today, I choose to surrender. Teach me to trust You more deeply and rest in Your care. Remind me that You see what I cannot and that Your love for me is constant. Help me release anxiety and walk in peace, knowing You are holding my life in Your hands. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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