Surrendering Control to God’s Wisdom

| Sermon Summary by Titus Azariah |

“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

We like to know what is going to happen.

●      Will I get the job?

●      Will I receive the promotion?

●      Will my marriage work?

●      Will my children be okay?

●      Will my plans succeed?

We can plan for tomorrow, but we cannot control it. We don't even know what the next hour will bring. Perhaps God created us with these limitations for a reason: to remind us that we were never meant to live independently of Him.

We often dwell on the past and worry about the future while forgetting to faithfully live in the present. Jesus reminds us to seek God's kingdom first and not carry tomorrow's worries today (Matthew 6:33–34).

So the question is not: “Can I control my future?”

It is: “When I cannot control the outcome, whose wisdom will I trust—God's or my own?”

1. When I Don't Know the Future — Trust God

Abraham and Saul

God called Abraham to leave his country and go to a land that He would show him (Genesis 12:1–4). Abraham didn't know where he was going. Hebrews 11:8 says he “obeyed and went out, not knowing where he was going.”

Abraham accepted his limitation: “I don't know everything, but I trust the One who does.”

Saul gives us a different picture. God had given him clear instructions, but Saul chose to modify them according to his own judgment (1 Samuel 15). Samuel told him:

“To obey is better than sacrifice.” — 1 Samuel 15:22

●      Abraham: “I don't know the future, but I will trust God.”

●      Saul: “I know what God said, but I will do it my way.”

Sometimes faith means accepting that we don't know what lies ahead and trusting the One who does. We don't need to know the entire road to trust the One who knows the destination.

2. When I Don't Know What to Do — Seek God

Jehoshaphat and Asa

In 2 Chronicles 20, Jehoshaphat and Judah were surrounded by enemies. He was afraid, but instead of pretending to have all the answers, he sought God and prayed:

“We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.” — 2 Chronicles 20:12

That is genuine faith. Faith doesn't mean having all the answers. It means knowing where to look when we don't have the answers.

Asa gives us another warning. Earlier in his life, Asa had trusted God and experienced His deliverance (2 Chronicles 14:9–12). But later, when Baasha threatened him, Asa relied on an alliance with Syria instead of seeking the Lord (2 Chronicles 16).

From a worldly perspective, his strategy made sense. The problem wasn't that Asa used his intelligence or experience. The problem was that he didn't bring his plan under God's wisdom.

The prophet told him: “You relied on the king of Syria, and did not rely on the LORD your God.” — 2 Chronicles 16:7

This is something we can easily do. We don't necessarily say, “I don't trust God.” Sometimes we simply say: “I've handled things like this before. I know what to do.”

Experience is valuable. Wisdom is valuable. Planning is valuable. But they should never replace our dependence on God. Experience should produce greater dependence—not independence. And Asa reminds us that it is not enough to begin our faith journey well. We must remain dependent on God until the end.

3. When My Desires Pull Me Away — Surrender

Joseph and Samson

Joseph was tempted by Potiphar's wife. He could have focused on what he wanted or whether he would get caught. Instead, he asked:

“How then can I do this great wickedness and sin against God?” — Genesis 39:9

Joseph was God-conscious. He chose God's will over his desire—even though doing the right thing eventually led him to prison.

When nobody is watching, are we still conscious of God?

When we are alone with our phones, our thoughts and our private desires, do we remember that our choices are ultimately before the Lord? What we watch, entertain, pursue and secretly desire may be invisible to people—but it is never hidden from God.

Samson represents the opposite attitude. His repeated pattern was: “It is right in my eyes.” (Judges 14:3). What felt right to Samson became more important than what God wanted.

●      Joseph: “How can I sin against God?”

●      Samson: “It is right in my eyes.”

The difference is not simply between two personalities. It is the difference between God's wisdom and my own desires. What we refuse to surrender can eventually become what controls us.

Jesus — The Perfect Picture of Surrender

After looking at these lives, we come to the greatest example—Jesus. In Gethsemane, Jesus prayed:

“If it is possible, let this cup pass from me…”

Jesus honestly expressed what He felt. There is nothing wrong with bringing our fears, emotions and desires honestly before God. But Jesus continued:

“Nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” — Matthew 26:39

That is surrender. Surrender does not mean that we stop feeling. It does not mean that we stop praying for what we desire. It means that God's will becomes greater than our will.

We can tell God: “Lord, this is what I think. This is what I feel. This is what I want.” And then: “Nevertheless, not my will, but Yours be done.” That is trusting God's wisdom.

What Is in My Hands—and What Is in God's Hands?

A student cannot control the examination result or future job, but they can study faithfully today. An employee cannot control promotions or salary increases, but they can do today's work with excellence and integrity.

We can prepare, work, pray and obey. But we cannot control every outcome. We can control our obedience, choices, preparation, attitude and faithfulness today. But we cannot control tomorrow, other people's decisions, the outcome or God's timing.

Our responsibility: Be faithful with what God has placed in our hands and trust Him with what He has kept in His hands.

Trusting God doesn't mean everything will happen according to our desired outcome. It means believing that God's wisdom is greater than ours—even when His answer is different from what we wanted.

●      Joseph obeyed and went to prison.

●      Jesus surrendered and went to the cross.

Yet both remained within God's will.

So What Are You Still Trying to Control?

Perhaps today God is asking you: “What are you still trying to control?”

●      Your future or career?

●      Your marriage or children?

●      Your finances or desires?

●      Someone else's decisions or an unanswered prayer?

You may not be able to control the outcome. But you can choose how you respond today:

●      Trust Him when you don't know the future.

●      Seek Him when you don't know what to do.

●      Surrender your desires when they conflict with His wisdom.

●      Remain dependent on Him, even when life is going well.

Trust.  Obey.  Surrender.

You don't need to understand everything because you trust the One who understands everything. You don't need to know everything because you know the One who knows everything. You don't need to control everything because God is still in control.

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.”— Proverbs 3:5