“I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. You shall have no other gods before me.” 
Exodus 20:2-3

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” 
Mark 12:30-31

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I have always been a planner. When I travel, I make lists. I have spreadsheets ready for any event I am planning. I map out my day each morning using my calendar, to-do list, and email inbox. I even meal plan each week before I go to the store (it really does save money and time)!

With so many things planned ahead, boxes checked, and details organized, why, then, do I still struggle with so much anxiety? 

Because it’s not about being organized. It’s about being in control. And I realize I’m not the only one who seeks that.

When Adam and Eve took and ate in the garden, they weren’t just making thoughtless decisions—they were seeking to control the way they saw the world. They experienced God’s providential perspective and, rather than trust it, they tried to claim control. 

Scripture tells story after story of how the Israelites wandered the desert mistrusting God’s provision: they made golden altars, lamented ever leaving slavery, and feared the wrath of giants.  It all demonstrated a lack of trust in Moses’ leadership and God’s provision. In the middle of these stories, God gives a clear solution: You shall have no other Gods before me. 

God gave them a community of almost a million people. They had strong leaders and food that fell from the sky. They saw water pour out of rocks and seas split in two. And still, they sought control for themselves. 

When Jesus taught crowds of thousands of anxious and hurting people, He shared the same message that He gave to the controlling, power-hungry Pharisees: Love the Lord your God above everything else, and love everyone else, too. 

The message of Jesus’ followers, the wandering Israelites, and the couple in the garden center around one thing: who do we look to for control? Where do we seek wisdom? Are we trusting in ourselves, or are we allowing God, the Creator of all things, the Source of all power, and the Giver of all wisdom to be in control?

Next Steps

Where are you clinging to control? Spend a few minutes listing the places in your life where you are lacking trust and holding on to control, and then try this prayer exercise: Pray over each item on the list. Start by naming it before God. Then, as you think about it, clench your fists tightly, then relax and open them up. Visualize your prayers being released from your control and given to God.