Who Is in Control?
Christ or ourselves.
If there is one thing certain in the life of every person who follows Jesus Christ, it is this: circumstances, challenges, and unexpected situations will arise to reveal who is truly in control—Christ or ourselves.
Throughout biblical history, men and women faced moments that exposed whether the Lord ruled their lives or whether they were trying to rule themselves.
Consider Adam. Although he was fully aware of the Lord’s command, the temptation of the evil one revealed that he chose to take control rather than submit to God. Despite knowing what was required of him, he asserted his own will in that decisive moment.
Think of Abram—later named Abraham. During a famine, he went down to Egypt. Fearing for his life because of his wife’s beauty, he told the Egyptians that she was his sister. Instead of trusting the Lord’s protection, he attempted to manage the situation through deception. Feeling out of control, he tried to seize control.
Peter provides another vivid example. On one occasion, when invited by Jesus to walk on water, he began well—but when he shifted his focus from Christ to the wind and the waves, he began to sink. In another moment, when soldiers came to arrest Jesus, Peter drew his sword and cut off the ear of one of them. In both cases, he acted impulsively, attempting to control circumstances rather than entrust them to the Lord. Each time, his efforts only made matters worse.
And then there is Martha. While serving as a gracious hostess—a noble and culturally expected role—she became frustrated that her sister was not helping. Concerned about appearances and responsibility, she sought to take control of the situation. Yet the Lord gently corrected her, reminding her that what mattered most was not control, but devotion.
The point is clear: as we follow Jesus, we will encounter situations beyond our control. Those moments expose the depth of our trust in the sovereign Lord who is always in control. Losing control of our circumstances often reveals whether we truly believe He is Lord.
Therefore, we must continually ask ourselves: Who is in control? Either we are, or He is. That is the crux of our faith journey. When challenges arise, we can surrender to His authority and trust His wisdom—or we can attempt to assert ourselves as lord over the One who is truly Lord.