When I have seen a science fiction movie, they always seem to have these insanely-overdone control panels – especially the 80s era. I am pretty sure Jean-Luc Picard had no idea what all those buttons were for!

But recently, I have been contemplating control and have come to realize that my heart looks a lot like that Sci-Fi control panel. Through years of trials, God has allowed me to see my controlling nature. In my mind I would argue, I was doing what was best for my family and that may very well have been my intent, but when situations would go wrong I felt I needed to jump into action. You don’t just let go and let God, right?

Maybe sometimes.

Sometimes, God calls you to trust Him in ways that seem too dangerous to us. The thought of putting one of my babies in a floating basket without a lifejacket just wouldn’t happen. But Moses floated away from the hands that loved him into the murky waters of the Nile – to the very nation that wanted baby Hebrew boys dead. God had a purpose. A big one.

I would never get in a car without a driver’s wheel, or on a boat without a rudder. Yet Noah walked in to a gargantuan box, knowing he would be in there for at least forty days and forty nights with his faith in God being the only helm. God had a plan. A big one.

Sometimes trusting Him might mean sacrificing our reputation. Mary and Joseph understood this all too well. A virgin birth? Who’s going to believe that? God had a plan. A really big one!

Sometimes trusting Him may just seem nonsensical like going out and tossing a net overboard when you have been fishing all night! As hard headed as Peter was, he figured out obedience brought blessing. God had a plan. A big one.

God wants us to release all the control panels of our heart to Him.

 

The size of our control panels is a telltale sign of the weakness of our faith or trust in God. Now I am not saying to go and put babies in water with no floatation devices and such. But with YOUR circumstances do you tend to trust the Lord and willingly surrender to Him or do you stay up all night contemplating your next move on the control panel? Does your control panel get consulted first or does the One who is sovereign over all hear from you?

Control panels stunt our faith. I am constantly learning the hard way that releasing things that are not in my control lifts a burden He never intended me to carry past the cross – and my fears give way to peace.

 

I use root analogies often in my writing. But this verse has always struck me – specifically the word “planted.” Trees typically aren’t planted, but like our circumstances we are “planted” where He has put us. Then the sentence previous shows us that the safest place to put our trust is where we are planted – not in our control panels.

Christian, ponder your circumstances. Search your heart for control panels that are trying to do God’s work. Lay those ugly devices at his feet and ask for his forgiveness. Trust in Him to take care of you.

God is writing your story and is sovereign over each chapter. He has a plan. A big one. Trust Him.