How many times have you said, “I trust God,” but found yourself still holding tightly to the reins of your life? As Christians, I know in our hearts that we know God is faithful, that He’s capable of leading us far better than we could lead ourselves. And yet, we struggle to let go. We continue clinging to control, driven by fear, uncertainty, and the need to manage every detail of our lives. Why is that?

I think you can all agree: surrendering control is hard. It feels risky, vulnerable, and sometimes, it feels like giving up. I’ve certainly felt like that at different points in my life. But is it really giving up, or is it allowing ourselves to fall into the arms of the One who loves us most? What holds us back from truly letting go and experiencing the peace and joy that comes from full surrender?

So Why Is It Hard to Let Go?

I believe that the desire for control is rooted deep within us. We want to know the outcomes. We want to be prepared. We fear the unknown, and we don’t like to feel helpless. Letting go means acknowledging that we aren’t in control—and for many of us, that feels unsettling. Perhaps we fear that if we don’t handle things, no one else will. Perhaps we feel that surrendering to God means things won’t go the way we want them to.

But let me ask you: what has holding onto control cost you? Has it brought you peace? Has it made you feel more secure, or has it worn you down, filled you with anxiety, and kept you from living with the freedom God offers?

I know I’ve been there. I’ve struggled with the idea of letting go and trusting God fully. In my own life, I’ve often battled with the thought that if I don’t keep everything in check, things will fall apart. For me, hanging on too tightly to the things I thought would satisfy me literally choked the life out of me. It took me years to realize that the tighter my grip, the looser my control. The more I desired to be the “captain of my ship,” the more I ran aground. But there’s something powerful that happens when we finally open our hands and say, “God, I trust You with this.” It’s in that moment that we realize the weight we’ve been carrying is lifted.

I think that one of the reasons we fear surrender is that we mistakenly believe we’re giving up control to something unknown, when in reality, we’re giving up control to Someone who knows us better than we know ourselves. God’s plan for us is so much greater than our own plans. His ways are higher. His thoughts are beyond what we can imagine. So why do we find it so hard to release our grip?

Let’s live a Life of Freedom and Joy. Here’s the truth: when we surrender, we aren’t giving up freedom. We’re stepping into it. God’s desire is for us to experience a life of joy and abundance, not one shackled by fear and the need to control every outcome. But we can’t walk in that freedom if we’re constantly gripping the steering wheel, refusing to let God lead.

Imagine how much lighter your heart would feel if you didn’t have to carry the weight of your own worries. Imagine the peace that could flow through your life if you trusted God fully, believing that He’s guiding you to where you need to be, even if it doesn’t always look like what you expected.

What if, instead of trying to fix everything, we learned to lean into God’s promises? What if, instead of fearing the future, we believed that God is already there, preparing the way?

So, let me ask you: what area of your life are you still holding onto to control? Is it your career, your relationships, your health, or your future plans? What are you afraid will happen if you let go?

God is inviting us to trust Him—truly trust Him—not just with the parts of our lives we feel comfortable surrendering, but with everything. And when we do, we open ourselves to a life of deep joy, peace, and purpose. He is trustworthy. He is faithful. And He is more than capable of handling the things we’ve been trying to manage on our own.

Release One Thing to God

This week, I want to challenge you to take one small step toward surrender. Identify one area where you’ve been holding onto control. It could be a decision, a fear, or a plan you’ve been struggling with. Whatever it is, offer it to God. Pray over it, and then, as best as you can, release it into His hands. Let go, and see how God moves in that situation.

Trusting God isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about believing that He is good, that He is with us, and that He will lead us. Are you ready to let go and allow Him to take the lead?

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” – Proverbs 3:5-6