Uncertain Timesਨਮੂਨਾ

Control Freaks

I take a walk most mornings, which leads me down a country road bordering a golf course.

One of the funniest things I’ve ever seen was witnessing a foursome of older golfers walking down the fairway to their balls.

Three of them were carrying their clubs, but one man had a new self-propelled motorized golf bag cart puttering along, which he controlled with a remote in his hand.

The man was teasing his friends who didn’t have his new toy.

“Sure is hot today! Must be heavy, carrying those bags! I’m just going for a nice relaxing walk here, and no no no NO NO NOOOOOOOO!!!!”

His cart had glitched and taken off with a mind of its own, refusing the remote control’s orders—speeding up, swerving wildly, and ultimately shooting away and plunging straight into a water hazard.

The other men fell to the ground laughing hysterically at the sight and at the humbled hubris, and I laughed from a distance.

The poor guy thought he was fully in control, but he wasn’t.

Of course, it becomes less funny and more poignant when I think of all the times in my own life when I thought I was in control, only to have circumstances get away from me, reminding me how powerless I really am over an awful lot.

We make our plans, the proverb says, but God is the one who actually calls the shots.

That’s a struggle for men, and even Jesus had a moment of wrestling over the matter.

At Gethsemane, Jesus struggled with the weight of His imminent death. Turning to His Father, He asked if there was any way to avoid what was coming. And yet, He ultimately submitted Himself to His Father’s will and control (Matthew 26:36-44).

From the moment a man is born, he struggles with control. From toddler tantrums to teenage rebellion, workplace challenges, and marital strife, men everywhere want to be in control. It gives us peace to think that we are on top of things.

But life inevitably deals us cards that we are powerless over, and our sense of peace gets thrown for a loop.

In such times, we remind ourselves that we are just men—not God.

There is a God, and He is good and the only one actually in control.

In uncertain times, we put our trust in His power and goodness.

Prayer: Lord, thank You for reminding me how little control I actually have over so much. And thank You that even when I am not in control, You fully are. Help me to be a man who leans in and trusts You. Amen.

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you really struggle to remain in control? What is one step you can take to release that control back to God?