Day 3: When You Can’t Control It: Choosing to Trust God - September 26, 2025

Audio By Carbonatix

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”  — Proverbs 3:5–6 

I was looking forward to a free day—one of those days when you have a mental checklist of what you want to accomplish. I was looking forward to a leisurely time in the Word, time to exercise, a long, hot shower, putting on a cute outfit, and then possibly a day of writing before we went to our small group.I’m an empty nest mom. What could get in the way of my predetermined plans?   

I woke up, made some delicious French Press coffee, and climbed back into bed. I opened my Bible and began reading when my husband called and asked if I’d go out to the kitchen and look for something for him. I put down the phone, went to the kitchen, found what he needed, and settled back into my time in the Word. Before I was able to finish, my daughter Facetimed me. Her two-year-old wanted to say hello to grandma! How can I resist that?  After spending about 30 minutes chatting with my daughter and granddaughter, I looked at the time and discovered that almost the entire morning had gotten away from me.  

Skipping my daily 30-minute bike ride, I took a quick shower and threw on the outfit I’d worn the day before. I had no time to iron because I wanted to be dressed and ready before my husband came home for lunch.  

After lunch, I started to feel exhausted because I hadn’t slept well the night before, so I decided I needed to take a quick nap before I settled down to do some writing. While napping, I received a phone call from my sister. My mom had fallen and was in the emergency room. I spent the rest of the afternoon making phone calls and wondering if I should pack my suitcase and drive to my mom’s house to help her when she came home.   

After deciding I didn’t need to go to my mom’s, it was time to get ready to leave for our small group. By the time we arrived, I was exhausted and had felt like my entire day had been wasted.  

That day was one of those days that God uses to remind me that I’m not in control. 

Maybe you’ve felt the rising panic when life doesn’t go how you want. Those days when you wake up with a list of things you want to accomplish on your mind, and from the moment your feet hit the floor, it seems like everyone is trying to sabotage your plans. Life and motherhood – regardless of what season of life you are in - have a way of showing us how little control you have. 

I don’t know about you, but I need that reminder because I often live like I am in control. It’s not a bad thing to be reminded that we are not!   

Imagine that we are in control is an illusion—a lie that the enemy wants us to believe. As weak human beings, we cannot hold anything in our lives together. We aren’t meant to trust our abilities to accomplish the big or the small things in our lives. Whether managing a household or trying to plan our child’s future, God’s Word does not encourage us to try harder or trust in our abilities. Instead, God directs us away from ourselves and back to Himself.  

Control is an illusion, but trust is an invitation.  

The Gospel and Control

What do you think is the root of wanting to be in control?  For me, it can be thinking that I know what needs to be done or what I think has value or is important in the moment, from my perspective. I can also fall into fear.  Fear of looking like I am not in control or of others thinking poorly of me. I also see that sometimes control comes from a selfish heart that wants to use the time I’ve been given in a way that serves me alone. But the gospel shows us that all those things at the root of my wanting to be in control do not weight them. 

Jesus came to our out-of-control world and surrendered Himself to the Father’s will. On the cross, it looked like He was not in control. Yet in God’s sovereign plan, that moment of surrender became the means of salvation. 

If God could bring life from the cross's apparent “out of control-ness,” can He not also bring beauty and redemption from the uncontrollable parts of our lives? The gospel tells us we should never hold on tight to what we think is important but need to release it to the One who is in control of all things. 

What Can We Do? 

1. Don’t react – respond.  In those moments when it is obvious that you are not in control, pause, take a breath, and pray for God to help you let go of your plans and open your eyes to His plans for the moment. He is present and waiting to guide you.   
2. Stop and remind yourself who God is. He is sovereign, loving, and wise. Nothing surprises Him— no interruption, FaceTime call, injury, spilled milk, or tantrums. Nothing in any season of motherhood surprises God.   
3. Surrender it all.  Begin surrendering the moments and activities of your days to God. Whatever it might be, your predetermined schedule, the big and the small details, can be surrendered to God. Train your heart to look to God in it all. 
4. Relationship over control. Sometimes, in our effort to control, we forget that people are more important than our desire to accomplish things. Those interruptions often are the means to connect with your child or a family member. What your children (and family) need most is not a perfectly structured day but a mom who is available and at peace, no matter what interrupts her schedule.  

SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT

1. What situation in motherhood makes you feel most out of control right now? 
2. How have you seen God’s faithfulness when life felt chaotic in past seasons? 
3. What would pausing and choosing trust instead of control today look like? 

LET’S PRAY

Lord, I confess that I often cling to control because I think I know what is most important, I am afraid of what others might think, or because I have selfishly predetermined how I want to spend my time. Forgive me for forgetting that You are sovereign and in control. Teach me to trust You in the small moments of daily chaos and big uncertainties. Help me release my grip and rest in Your care. Thank You for securely holding my children, plans, and future in Your hands. In Jesus’ name, amen. 

Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/ Ivan Pantic

Gina Smith is a wife of 37 years, mom of 2, and grandma of 3. She is  a writer and author, writing her very first published book in her empty nest years. She has a passion to come alongside the younger generation to encourage them, strengthen them in God, and learn from them.  You can find Gina at her website www.ginalsmith.com, and her book Everyday Prayers for Joy can be found anywhere books are sold. 

Related Resource: Soft Words for Hard Days: A Conversation with Aundi Kolber

Some days feel heavy. Some moments leave us wondering how to keep going. If you’ve ever longed for encouragement amid life’s hardest moments, I have a special episode of The Love Offering for you. This week, I’m joined by therapist and bestselling author Aundi Kolber to discuss her latest book, Take What You Need: Soft Words for Hard Days. This beautiful collection of quotes, scriptures, prayers, and gentle exercises is designed to be a balm for your most tender places—a reminder that you are never alone on your journey to healing.

In our conversation, we explore:
✨ How to hold space for yourself and others in difficult seasons
✨ The power of compassionate words when life feels overwhelming
✨ Practical ways to embrace healing and take one more step forward

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