Joel Osteen – Letting Go of Control

I want to talk to you today about Letting Go of Control. God puts promises and dreams in all of our hearts. We know we’re going to get well, we know our business is going to succeed, we know we’re going to meet the right person, but God doesn’t tell us how it’s going to happen or when it’s going to happen. And too often if it’s not happening the way we thought, on our timetable, we get frustrated. “God, when are you going to turn this around? When is my health going to improve? How come this situation is work is not getting better”? We put God in a box and tell him how to do it, when it should happen, who to use. If it’s not working out the way we think, we get discouraged. But once you pray, once you believe, you have to leave how God does it and when he does it up to him.

If you put a time frame on it, and the method of how it’s going to happen, you’re going to be frustrated. Because God’s ways are not our ways. He’s working when we can’t see it. Sometimes it’s taken longer because he has something better in store. One of the best things I’ve learned is to trust God’s timing, and trust his ways. What God promised will come to pass, but it may not happen the way you think, it may not be when you had planned. If you’re trying to control the outcome, and control the time frame, then you’re going to live worried. You have to release control, release having to have it happen your way.

God has already figured it out. He knows the end from the beginning, but here’s the key: he doesn’t give us the details. If you knew how everything was going to work out, it wouldn’t take faith. If he told you three months from now: “A big door is going to open”, it looks like you’re going backwards, but there’s a shortcut, that’s going to put you ahead. “This person is going to show up to help you”, you would relax and say “Okay, it’s all going to work out”. Why don’t you do that now?

God has it all planned out, he’s doing things that you can’t see. There are good breaks coming, healing, favor, the right people, they’re already on your schedule. If you’ll release control then you can enjoy your life, while you’re waiting for things to change. What’s upsetting you? What’s keeping you up at night? God is saying: “Release it to me. I’m in control. I’m ordering your steps. I’m working behind the scenes. It may not be good, but I’m going to turn it for your good”.