The Feeling of Control – Reality or Illusion?

You arrive at work according to schedule, your mind already thinking through your plans for the day: meetings, deadlines, specific tasks or projects you want to work on or finally complete. You feel completely in control. Until you realize that you’re not.

One of the defining characteristics of life and work is how uncertain things can be. Scottish poet Robert Burns noted: “The best laid plans of mice and men often go awry.” In other words, the so-called “Murphy’s Law” states that if something can go wrong, it will go wrong. When we start thinking we control everything, circumstances can conspire to prove that we don’t.

I have experienced this hard lesson repeatedly as a journalist. There was a time early in my career when I was working at a daily newspaper and thought I had the front page layout ready. Then I received notice that a tragic school bus accident had just occurred. The deadline for sending the paper to print was approaching, but I knew I couldn’t ignore this breaking news. Suddenly everything went out of control. Fortunately, around that time a more experienced editor-in-chief came to my aid.

Several times while I was a magazine editor, articles we planned to use didn’t materialize, and we had to quickly switch to Plan B. Similar incidents dispelled any notion that I was “in control.” Before I became a follower of Jesus Christ and discovered the power of prayer, my first impulse was panic. Even later in my career, the feeling of losing control always caused anxiety.

Giving my life to Christ proved to be transformative in many ways. One of them was learning how to deal with the inevitable moments that go out of control. In fact, one of the first Bible verses I memorized addressed this directly. Proverbs 3:5-6, which I came to consider my “life verse,” gives the following instruction: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.”

Sometimes I have difficulty navigating in unfamiliar places. The Global Positioning System (GPS) on my smartphone has been an invaluable tool. But life and work don’t provide maps or GPS to show the best direction. That’s why trusting in God’s guidance, even when I can’t understand what He’s doing or where He’s leading me, has become so important. Here are some principles I’ve learned:

Acknowledging dependence on God. Putting God first in our plans and actions and trusting Him is crucial to not getting lost. “Trust in the Lord and do good… Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart… Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him” (Psalm 37:3-7).

Relying on God’s course corrections. When traveling, it’s important to know when to stop and when to stay on the main road. The same applies to how we navigate the course of our lives, even in the workplace. “A person plans in their heart, but the Lord establishes their steps” (Proverbs 16:9).

Remembering that God holds the future. Our plans often fall apart because we don’t know what lies ahead. In faith, it can help to know that God is in control of everything. “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11-14).

© 2024. Robert J. Tamasy wrote Marketplace Ambassadors: The Continuing Legacy of CBMC Evangelism and Discipleship; Business at Its Best: Timeless Wisdom from Proverbs for Today’s Workplace; Pursuing Life with a Shepherd’s Heart, co-authored with Ken Johnson; and The Heart of Mentoring, co-authored with David A. Stoddard. Bob’s biweekly blog: www.bobtamasy.blogspot.com.

Questions for Reflection/Discussion

1. Some people are called “control freaks,” wanting to feel they control even the smallest details. How would you describe yourself in terms of the need to feel in control?
2. Recall one or two situations when everything seemed to be going smoothly and you felt in control, but suddenly found out you weren’t. How did you respond?
3. Can you recall any benefits – any positive aspects – of realizing that no matter how hard you try, some things in life simply cannot be controlled? Explain your answer.
4. How can faith and trust in God help cope with times that seem to be out of control? Does this simply mean shrugging your shoulders and accepting whatever happens, or does it mean something more?

NOTE: If you have a Bible and want to read more, consider the following passages: Proverbs 19:21, 20:24, 21:1,30-31, 27:1; Matthew 6:25-34; Philippians 4:6-7

This Week’s Assignment

Over the next week, take some time to think about how the important feeling of “control” affects your approach to work. If you notice that you feel anxiety or worry more than you think you should, spend some time in prayer, asking God for wisdom and strength to trust Him more – and depend less on the circumstances you face. Find a friend – perhaps someone from your CBMC group, if you’re part of one – to hold you accountable.