LENT Day 15

Lent Devotional

Day 15 - Friday, March 6, 2026

"Letting Go of Control"

Author: Ashley Schroyer

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Scripture:  Psalm 37:5

Surrender is not weakness it’s trust. There’s a kind of control that looks responsible. It shows up early. It anticipates problems before they happen. It carries people quietly so no one else has to feel the weight. It even sounds faithful. But if I’m honest, my control isn’t just about doing things well, it’s about managing outcomes. Making sure things turn out okay. Making sure people are okay. Making sure nothing falls apart on my watch. I don’t just care deeply. I assume responsibility deeply. I try to control the pace because slowing down feels risky. I try to control perception because misunderstanding feels unsettling. I try to control outcomes because disappointment feels personal. And underneath all of it is this belief I rarely say out loud: If I don’t stay vigilant, something bad might happen.

Control is exhausting because it was never my calling. Proverbs tells me not to lean on my own understanding, but my understanding feels so logical. It says, be prepared. Be responsible. Be ready. What it doesn’t say, but what I often live like, is Be God.

Psalm 37:5 says, “Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him,and He will act.”

Not I will act harder. Not I will hold it together longer. Letting go of control doesn’t mean I stop caring. It means I stop pretending that my grip is what protects the people I love. Surrender isn’t passive. It’s brave enough to loosen my hands and say, “God, I trust You with what I can’t fix, can’t force, and can’t foresee.” Even when rest feels unproductive. Even when waiting feels irresponsible. Even when vulnerability feels exposed. Control gives the illusion of strength. Trust requires courage. And today, I chose courage. Faith doesn’t grow in tight fists. Faith grows in open hands.

Prayer

God, I confess how tightly I hold outcomes, people, and timing. I carry what was never mine to carry. Teach me to release control without losing care. Help me trust that You are at work, even when I step back. I place my way, my people, and my future in Your hands. Amen.