The Only Control God Asks You to Have Is Self-Control
Scripture:
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.” — Galatians 5:22–23 (NKJV)
Have you ever stopped to consider how much of your life you spend trying to control things that were never yours to control?
We try to control our circumstances, our future, the people around us, how others perceive us, and even the outcomes of situations we find ourselves in. We become frustrated when things don’t go our way, disappointed when people don’t act the way we think they should, and anxious when life doesn’t unfold according to our plans.
But here’s something worth considering: God never called you to control everyone and everything around you. He calls you to exercise self-control.
Think about that for a moment.
You cannot control what someone says about you, but you can control how you respond.
You cannot control someone else’s anger, but you can choose not to respond in anger.
You cannot control the temptations that come your way, but through the power of the Holy Spirit, you can choose not to surrender to them.
You cannot control what tomorrow brings, but you can choose to trust the One who holds tomorrow.
And perhaps one of the hardest lessons we must learn is that we cannot control another person’s walk with Christ. We can encourage them, disciple them, pray for them, and speak truth into their lives, but we cannot make their decisions for them. Their relationship with God is ultimately their responsibility.
The beautiful thing about self-control is that Scripture identifies it as a fruit of the Spirit. That means it isn’t simply about having stronger willpower. It’s about allowing the Holy Spirit to work within us, transforming our hearts so that our actions reflect Christ rather than our emotions.
Proverbs 16:32 (NKJV) tells us:
“He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, And he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.”
Consider the power of that statement. God places greater value on a man who can govern his own spirit than on a mighty warrior who conquers an entire city.
Why? Because conquering something outside yourself is often easier than surrendering what is happening inside yourself.
Self-control means choosing patience when you’re frustrated, forgiveness when you’ve been hurt, humility when your pride wants to take over, and obedience when your flesh wants something contrary to God’s Word.
And sometimes self-control means doing absolutely nothing. Not responding to that message. Not defending yourself against every accusation. Not having the last word. Simply trusting God enough to let Him handle what you cannot.
Here’s my challenge for you today:
Before you react to something that frustrates you, ask yourself: Am I trying to control this situation, or am I allowing the Holy Spirit to control my response?
Because spiritual maturity isn’t measured by how much control you have over your surroundings. It’s revealed in how faithfully you surrender yourself to Christ.
Stop trying to control what belongs to God, and start taking responsibility for what He has entrusted to you.
And remember, even self-control isn’t something we accomplish apart from Him. It is the fruit of a life surrendered to the Holy Spirit.
You don’t have to be in control of everything when you trust the One who is.
— Rev. Carlos Figueroa TheFreeBible.org
