You Need a New OS | Why Control Feels Safe—But Isn't

Why does trusting God feel harder than carrying everything myself?

Trust sounds restful until it asks you to stand still and wait, and that is the one thing our instincts never tell us to do. Israel ran to Egypt again and again rather than simply rest, and God met them with a promise instead of a strategy.

For thus said the Lord Yahweh, the Holy One of Israel, “You will be saved in returning and rest. Your strength will be in quietness and in confidence.” You refused,…

Isaiah 30:15

“Come to me, all you who labor and are heavily burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart; and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Matthew 11:28–30

“Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations. I will be exalted on the earth.”

Psalms 46:10

Trust in Yahweh with all your heart, and don’t lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.

Proverbs 3:5–6

Why do I try to control the people I love the most?

When you carry the outcome of someone else's life, you stop loving them and start managing them. Saul knew this. He could not let David have the life God was giving him, and it ate him alive.

Saul was very angry, and this saying displeased him. He said, “They have credited David with ten thousands, and they have only credited me with thousands. What can he have more but the kingdom?” Saul watched David from that day and forward.

1 Samuel 18:8–9

A man’s heart plans his course, but Yahweh directs his steps.

Proverbs 16:9

In those days, when Moses had grown up, he went out to his brothers and saw their burdens. He saw an Egyptian striking a Hebrew, one of his brothers. He looked this way and that way, and when he saw that there was no one, he killed the Egyptian, and hid him in the sand. He went out the second day, and behold, two men of the Hebrews were fighting with each other. He said to him who did the wrong, “Why do you strike your fellow?” He said, “Who made you a prince and a judge over us? Do you plan to kill me, as you killed the Egyptian?” Moses was afraid, and said, “Surely this thing is known.” Now when Pharaoh heard this thing, he sought to kill Moses. But Moses fled from the face of Pharaoh, and lived in the land of Midian, and he sat down by a well.

Exodus 2:11–15

If I trust God and it still goes badly, then what was the point?

Trust does not promise the outcome you were hoping for, it promises the presence of the one driving. The men in the fiery furnace put it exactly this way when they said God could rescue them but they would trust him even if he did not.

If it happens, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace; and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image which you have set up.”

Daniel 3:17–18

For even though the fig tree doesn’t flourish, nor fruit be in the vines, the labor of the olive fails, the fields yield no food, the flocks are cut off from the fold, and there is no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in Yahweh. I will be joyful in the God of my salvation! Yahweh, the Lord, is my strength. He makes my feet like deer’s feet, and enables me to go in high places. For the music director, on my stringed instruments.

Habakkuk 3:17–19

We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, for those who are called according to his purpose.

Romans 8:28

He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Most gladly therefore I will rather glory in my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest on me. Therefore I take pleasure in weaknesses, in injuries, in necessities, in persecutions, and in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then am I strong.

2 Corinthians 12:9–10

What does it actually look like to be a child instead of the wise one?

Jesus thanked his Father for hiding things from the wise and revealing them to children, which is the last thing anyone with a degree wants to hear. Naaman almost walked away from healing because washing in a river was too simple for a commander.

At that time, Jesus answered, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you hid these things from the wise and understanding, and revealed them to infants. Yes, Father, for so it was well-pleasing in your sight.

Matthew 11:25–26

But Naaman was angry, and went away and said, “Behold, I thought, ‘He will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of Yahweh his God, and wave his hand over the place, and heal the leper.’ Aren’t Abanah and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Couldn’t I wash in them and be clean?” So he turned and went away in a rage. His servants came near and spoke to him, and said, “My father, if the prophet had asked you do some great thing, wouldn’t you have done it? How much rather then, when he says to you, ‘Wash, and be clean’?” Then went he down and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God; and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.

2 Kings 5:11–14

Most certainly I tell you, whoever will not receive God’s Kingdom like a little child, he will in no way enter into it.”

Mark 10:15

For you see your calling, brothers, that not many are wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, and not many noble; but God chose the foolish things of the world that he might put to shame those who are wise. God chose the weak things of the world that he might put to shame the things that are strong. God chose the lowly things of the world, and the things that are despised, and the things that don’t exist, that he might bring to nothing the things that exist, that no flesh should boast before God.

1 Corinthians 1:26–29