Control.

Power. Persuasion. Influence. You might even call it independence. Or maybe it’s just an aversion to having to answer to somebody else – someone telling us what to do. We seek, no, we crave control. We, and I certainly include myself at the front of this line, seem to react swiftly and with vengeance to anyone trying to take away our independence or ability to direct our own lives against our will. It is human nature.

The Lord knows I have spent plenty of my own energy trying to do things my way, and I’ve spent more time and effort trying to get others to do things my way than I’d care to admit. I have strong opinions, and I am continually convinced that if other people would just listen, they would see just how “right” those opinions are. Yet no matter how many attempts I make at this, my vision just doesn’t end up looking like I thought it would. Oh, there might be short-term success, but eventually that success fades away.

If I’m honest with myself, those moments or seasons of independence don’t seem to work out all that well. In my work life, I’ve wanted to be a baseball player (nope), a sportscaster (nope), a newspaper/radio salesperson (uh-uh), and a car salesman (it was a weak moment, and I was desperate). Then I wised-up momentarily, and asked the Lord what He wanted me to do. I spent 18 mostly-amazing years in education, with a couple of clunkers thrown in :-). Then I decided I wanted to be a real estate agent (too soon to tell). If I am honest, the happiest and most successful times of my professional life have been when I have submitted to the control of the Lord, and given up my independence to a God that has an eternal view of my life instead of the immediate satisfaction I seek for myself. I suspect an evaluation of the other aspects of my life would yield a similar pattern.

Knowing I can look back on a concrete track record, both good and bad, why do I keep wanting to steer my own course? I have some reasons, but they are kind of weak. First, I am an only child. Shocking, I know. But being The Only One had its perks growing up – like getting what I wanted, when I wanted it. It’s a good thing I’ve outgrown that. Secondly, I live in Texas. Texans are an independent lot, just ask us. We’re the only state that’s been its own country (see Texas Independence Day). We like to be independent, and we like to be right. And usually, we are both. Just sayin’, don’t hate. Legitimate reasons on the outside, but not deep on the inside.

As you struggle today with not wanting to yield to authority, whether that authority comes from God, your employer or your spouse, or somewhere else, just remember that there are others of us that struggle with it, too. Talk to a friend – encourage each other. Also, don’t forget to talk to your other Friend – and ask Him to take over. He’s good at it. Real good.