GIVEAWAY ALERT: You can win the book Control Girl: Lessons on Surrendering Your Burden of Control from Seven Women in the Bible by this week’s podcast guest. Keep reading to find out how!
No one wants to think of themselves as controlling. But when a little change to plans causes an eruption, or when an itty bitty unexpected event dislodges an avalanche of worry, we’ve got to consider that control might be more of an issue than we think!
Do you struggle with wanting to be in control? Oh, friend, you aren’t alone.
I used to be a total control freak—and I’m blind. So, try to figure that one out! Today, though, I’m a recovering blind control freak. But, it took me years to figure out that I have to let go of my perfect timetable and to-do list.
![Can I Seek God More Than I Seek Control? [Episode 13 with Angie Smith] jpg](https://www.jenniferrothschild.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/12_06_2018_Pod_13_CanISeekGodMore_Nov.jpg)
Did you know that I once brought my own forks to China? It’s true!
A few years ago, my husband, Phil, was invited to teach at Liaoning Normal University in Dalian, China. While I was so excited about this amazing, once-in-a-lifetime trip, I also realized I had a problem.
I cannot eat with chopsticks, and I knew forks would probably be hard to find. So, I packed my own forks—after all, I gotta be in control of my meals!
What would happen if you just got still? Would the world as you know it fall apart? Would you?
Sometimes we stay busy to outrun our fear of failure or keep us distracted from thinking. Sometimes, when we are overwhelmed by sorrow or stress, we just long to fix something, clean something … you know, do something!
I used to be a total control freak — a blind control freak. Today, though, I am a recovering blind control freak. It took me years to figure out that blindness demands I release my need for control.
Without being able to see, I have to risk trusting other people. I have to let go of my perfect timetable and my to-do list. It’s not always easy to let go and trust, but if I don’t choose to risk or release, I truly will never receive what I need.
So, for me, being a blind control freak is completely counterproductive!
And, can I be honest with the sisters?
As a college student, I volunteered at a youth camp for several summers. Most of the time, I led worship and hung out with the girls, but this night, the altar was full of teenagers and the youth minister asked if I would help counsel. Within 10 seconds of my “yes,” a young man made a beeline to me. He was middle school-aged. I knew his name but that was all I knew. I asked him why he came to the front and he told me it was because he wanted to ask Jesus into his heart.
I reviewed what that meant with him and then asked him to pray with me. “Nope.” was all he said.
Okay, so this is not what I expected! It made no sense. I explained the gospel and asked him again. “Do you want to pray to receive Christ?”
“Nope.”
I asked “Do you understand?” He answered, “Nope.”
So, I explained again and thought we had a breakthrough. Again I asked, “Do you want to receive Christ?” You guessed it! “Nope,” was his answer.
I was so frustrated and confused. I hadn’t had much experience with middle school boys, but, seriously? I just couldn’t tell if he was rebellious, pulling my leg or truly didn’t understand.
The youth minister must have seen me looking totally perplexed and helpless so he rushed over.
