WEEK 1 DAY 4
Loosening Our Grip
Devotional
One of the most exhausting things we do is try to play God in our own lives and the lives of others. We grip tightly to outcomes, desperately trying to control how our children turn out, how our ministries develop, how our careers unfold, and how our relationships progress. This white-knuckled approach to life is a recipe for spiritual burnout. Elijah fell into this trap. After his victory on Mount Carmel, he expected a national revival. When it didn't happen the way he envisioned, when Jezebel's threat shattered his expectations, he crashed hard. His exhaustion was partly rooted in trying to control outcomes that were never his to control. True trust in God isn't believing He'll make everything turn out the way we want. That's not trust - that's just hoping God will be our cosmic vending machine. Real trust says, "I trust You regardless of the outcome." It's the difference between trusting God to give us what we want and trusting God even when He doesn't. This kind of surrender doesn't come naturally. It requires us to acknowledge that our grip on life's steering wheel is largely an illusion anyway. We can influence outcomes, but we can't control them. And the energy we spend trying to control what's beyond our control is energy stolen from what actually is within our influence. When we loosen our grip on outcomes, we free ourselves to focus on faithfulness rather than results. We can pour ourselves into loving well, serving faithfully, and walking obediently without the crushing weight of having to make everything turn out perfectly. This is where true rest begins - not in getting everything we want, but in trusting the One who knows what we need.
Bible Verse
'He replied, "I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too."' - 1 Kings 19:10
Reflection Question
What outcomes in your life are you gripping too tightly, and what would it look like to trust God regardless of how those situations turn out?
Quote
A lot of times what we call trusting God with the outcomes is we're trusting him, that he's going to make the outcome turn out the way we want. Trusting God with outcomes says this, "I trust you regardless of the outcome."
Prayer
God, help me to loosen my grip on the outcomes I'm trying to control. Teach me the difference between trusting You to give me what I want and trusting You even when You don't. Give me the grace to focus on faithfulness rather than results. Amen.
*This devo was developed using Sermon Shots
One of the most exhausting things we do is try to play God in our own lives and the lives of others. We grip tightly to outcomes, desperately trying to control how our children turn out, how our ministries develop, how our careers unfold, and how our relationships progress. This white-knuckled approach to life is a recipe for spiritual burnout. Elijah fell into this trap. After his victory on Mount Carmel, he expected a national revival. When it didn't happen the way he envisioned, when Jezebel's threat shattered his expectations, he crashed hard. His exhaustion was partly rooted in trying to control outcomes that were never his to control. True trust in God isn't believing He'll make everything turn out the way we want. That's not trust - that's just hoping God will be our cosmic vending machine. Real trust says, "I trust You regardless of the outcome." It's the difference between trusting God to give us what we want and trusting God even when He doesn't. This kind of surrender doesn't come naturally. It requires us to acknowledge that our grip on life's steering wheel is largely an illusion anyway. We can influence outcomes, but we can't control them. And the energy we spend trying to control what's beyond our control is energy stolen from what actually is within our influence. When we loosen our grip on outcomes, we free ourselves to focus on faithfulness rather than results. We can pour ourselves into loving well, serving faithfully, and walking obediently without the crushing weight of having to make everything turn out perfectly. This is where true rest begins - not in getting everything we want, but in trusting the One who knows what we need.
Bible Verse
'He replied, "I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too."' - 1 Kings 19:10
Reflection Question
What outcomes in your life are you gripping too tightly, and what would it look like to trust God regardless of how those situations turn out?
Quote
A lot of times what we call trusting God with the outcomes is we're trusting him, that he's going to make the outcome turn out the way we want. Trusting God with outcomes says this, "I trust you regardless of the outcome."
Prayer
God, help me to loosen my grip on the outcomes I'm trying to control. Teach me the difference between trusting You to give me what I want and trusting You even when You don't. Give me the grace to focus on faithfulness rather than results. Amen.
*This devo was developed using Sermon Shots