Is the Illusion of Control Your Favorite Idol?

Is the Illusion of Control Your Favorite Idol?

Posted on by Michele Morin

As a grownup with no little people living in our house any longer, my task at bedtime is simple and straightforward. I assemble the scattered experiences of a day, including all the moments of distress, puzzlement, or joy. At day’s end, everything becomes an offering to the Lord as I simply turn the outcome over to him and go to sleep in peace.

Except for when I don’t…

At some point, I realized that when I’m worrying about something after lights out, as I’m replaying all the scenarios about how something might turn out (or blow up), I’m actually strategizing a life without God at the center. What feels like “strategizing” is really an exercise in trying to control every stray atom. The illusion of control can easily become my idol of choice.

Prayer is a much wiser and better use of that time before sleep comes. Psalm 4:8 goes so far as to connect peaceful sleep with the realization that the Lord is our only safe dwelling place, the only one who can manage my spinning plates as easily as he manages the spinning planets.

In peace I will both lie down and sleep;
    for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.” (Psalm 4:8)

I think it helps our absorption of scriptural truth to fold the words into a prayer:

“Lord, my eyes are so awake right now that they glow in the dark, and you know that this body needs sleep. Just as all my times are in your hands, so are the events of this day. You alone know the outcome of all that I’m turning over in my mind. You alone, O Lord, are my safe dwelling place, and in that knowledge, by your Spirit, help me to sleep in peace.”

Psalm 23 is another gem to turn into a prayer for whatever is eating away at you:

“Lord, you are my shepherd. I’m not on my own. Show me how to be your sheep. I realize that in this instance I’m wanting to go my own way and I need you to use your rod of discipline and your Shepherd’s staff to rescue me from danger. I need the restoration of soul that only you can provide.”

Whatever you are worried about, whenever disappointment cries out for a do-over, ask God to show you what is possible to change—then hand the impossible over to him:

Lord, I bring all my loose ends to you—all the things I wish I had done differently or better and all the unsolved things. I don’t know the outcome, but you are the God of all beginnings and all endings, so I turn this day over to you and ask for grace to walk with you anew in the morning.

It’s never too late to start over.

Holding You in the Light,

God can manage all your spinning plates as easily as he manages the spinning planets.

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Published by Michele Morin

Michele Morin is a Bible teacher, writer, reader, and gardener committed to the truth that women can become confident Christ-followers and students of God's Word. She has been married to an unreasonably patient husband for thirty-plus years, and together they have four married sons and a growing fleet of adorable grandchildren. Michele loves hot tea and well-crafted sentences, poems that stop her in her tracks, and days at the ocean with the whole family. She laments biblical illiteracy and advocates for the prudent use of “little minutes.” She blogs at Living Our Days, and you can connect with her on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter.

28 thoughts on “Is the Illusion of Control Your Favorite Idol?”

  1. Very well said Michele. When I first started reading, I was so impressed with your ability to pray before bed and release your troubles. Then you dropped “except for when I don’t”.  We know wh

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    1. Ha! Nope, nothing too impressive going on here, and I feel as if it’s important for me to be very honest about that. If I write about an imaginary perfect life, I’m not going to help anyone, and will probably damage my own soul in the process!
      I’m always so happy to hear from you!

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  2. Ooooo, I’d love to see a picture of your “glow in the dark eyes!” For the last 4 years, I read the One Year thru the Bible right before bed. It has an Old and New Testament, Psalms and Proverbs for each day. It focuses my attention to God and then usually a verse will pop out that I can pray over, and then I sleep soundly. “Except of when I don’t” sometimes I can barely keep my eyes open long enough to get through the day’s reading. Too much snow shoveling, or because it is tax season or something like that.

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    1. That’s a great strategy. My oldest grandson is reading through the Bible with his dad, and I noticed on his last overnight visit that he’s doing his reading at bedtime. I love it.
      Scripture is a soft landing place for our brains at bedtime!

      Liked by 1 person

  4. I don’t think of myself as a worrywart but I sure need to be able to corral my thoughts so I can sleep sometimes. I had my daughter memorize this verse when she was young and had nightmares, and taught her to recite it aloud if she woke during the night feeling scared or anxious. We never outgrow our need to have our Heavenly Father “tuck us in” and reassure us that he’s got it all under control, I guess.

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    1. Yes to “corraling” our thoughts.
      I love what you taught your daughter to do. It’s important for all of us to use scripture as ammunition against the screaming banshees in our brains.

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  5. Amen and Amen, my friend! Your prayers are refreshing hope! I, too, have turned to scripture to replace His word with the worries, the planning, the scenario making. It makes me feel guilty because I am relying on His word and not my own hard work – as though I’m lazy. I am glad I realize that is just the devil trying to steal my peace. Praise God that He provided for our rest!

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  7. Michele, it usually takes me a little while to fall asleep at night. While it’s usually not because I’m stewing about the day, I do love your practice of intentionally reviewing the day’s highlights and lowlights in prayer. And praying scripture when I wake up throughout the nigh–sometimes anxious and sometimes not–is definitely helpful!

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  9. Wanting to be in control and have everything make sense are such hard things to let go of. But when we don’t, it makes for a lot of unnecessary anxiety over things we’re never meant to control. I’m still on that learning curve! 🙂

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  10. Ugh, yes I cling to that illusion of control so often too. Even when I’m really worried over something and give it over to prayer that rarely stops me from still worrying and playing out a million different possible solutions.

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    1. I’m actually repenting of my annual complaint about the lack of snow here in The Midcoast! We’ve got lots of snow and it’s sticking around! It’s beautiful—but I am longing for some warm weather and good footing for an outdoor walk!

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  12. I loved this Michele. First you had me impressed with your nighttime routine. I’ve never quite formed a habit at bedtime but would love to. I was feeling convicted. Then you had me smiling that you don’t do it to perfection and then this “Lord, my eyes are so awake right now that they glow in the dark” had me chuckling. I’ve been up the last days at 4:45 am trying to control circumstances.

    Thank you for being part of our Grace & Truth Link-Up! I’ve highlighted your post on my Pinterest board—check out your feature here: https://www.pinterest.com/embracingtheune/grace-truth-christian-link-up-featured-posts/.

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