From Control to Surrender

Anxiety often grows out of our desire to control what we cannot. We replay conversations, plan out every possible outcome, and grasp for certainty. But the more we try to hold everything together, the more anxious we feel. Control promises relief but delivers exhaustion.

Surrender is the opposite. It is not giving up. It is giving over. Proverbs tells us to trust in the Lord with all our hearts, not lean on our own understanding, and submit to Him so that He makes the path clear (Proverbs 3:5–6).

The psalmist reminds us that God bears our burdens daily (Psalm 68:19). Every morning, every situation, He is strong enough to carry what weighs us down. Peter echoes this truth, calling us to humility and inviting us to cast our cares on God because He truly cares for us (1 Peter 5:7).

Control keeps us anxious. Surrender sets us free.

Prayer:
Lord, I confess that I often try to control what only You can handle. Teach me to surrender my cares to You in trust. Remind me that Your hands are stronger than mine and that You bear my burdens daily.

Daily Challenge:
Think of one situation you have been trying to control. Today, pray over it and verbally surrender it to God, saying: “Lord, I trust you. This belongs to You.”