The Best Way to Release Control and Find True Freedom: Join the Jesus Challenge

Doesn’t life sometimes feel like a high-stakes juggling act? You’re trying to keep every ball in the air – your family, work, mental health, friendships, home, rest, and countless daily decisions. And you juggle ferociously, anchored to the belief that everything is only truly “safe” if YOU manage it. After all, if you don’t hold it together, who will? 🥵

We’ve bought into the idea that the more control we have, the better our lives will be. 

📅 Control your schedule = more freedom. 

💰 Control your finances = less worry. 

🫸 Control your relationships = no hurt. 

🕹️ Control your environment = no overwhelm. 

💊 Control your health = less fear. 

But it’s a trap. The truth is, our craving for control costs us the full, rich life of potential God intends for us. 

But do we trust God for that? 🤔 Not really. So we doggedly press on, juggling ourselves into burnout, and end up overwhelmed, stressed, and worried because our need for control is never satisfied. 

If that’s you, you’re not alone. 

And if you’re ready to let go of bearing the weight of every detail, I have the solution you’ve been waiting for. 

The Jesus Challenge offers a radical, yet simple way to break free of the iron grip of control. NOT, as we might assume, by being better, doing more, and trying harder. That’s just trying to control your way out of it! 😉

My virtual Jesus challenge helps you loosen your grip and put your trust where it truly belongs. No longer in yourself, but in the One who holds every detail of your life carefully in His hands. 

Are you ready for that freedom? Let’s dive in. 

The Idolization of Control  

In American culture, control is not just encouraged – it's glorified. 

“Be your own boss.” 

“Take charge of your life.” 

“Hustle harder.” 

We're taught that life is less overwhelming if we can just hold on tightly enough. We set control on a pedestal – a throne – celebrating it as the fulfillment of the peace and freedom we crave. 😳

This idolization of control shows up in subtle ways every day: 

🔒 When we micromanage our families to keep order. 

🔒 When we obsess over time management to maximize every second of the day.
🔒 When we freak out about plans getting slightly off track.
🔒 When we try to control our image on social media to appear a certain way. 

🔒 When we get defensive about our finances. 

But the more we chase control, the more we feel its absence. 

Ironically, the idolization of control usually brings the opposite of peace and freedom – it leads to exhaustion, worry, and burnout. 

When you start to recognize this idol, it becomes clear how desperately you need a new way, because THIS is not working. 😮‍💨

Why We Struggle To Let Go 

Control stems from a root of fear. 

Fearing vulnerability. 

Fearing upsetting outcomes.
Fearing pain. 

Fearing discomfort. 

Fearing judgment. 

The common denominator is the fear of not being safe. 

So we take control of our own safety, saying, “I know what is best. No one else knows how to keep me safe.” 

Friend, I want to lovingly challenge you that that is not a true statement. 🫶

I believe our craving for control is rooted in a lack of trust in God’s character. Well, we do trust Him… but up to a point. “Just not when my life is falling down around me in shambles – that’s too personal and painful to trust someone else with, right?” Hmm… 

It’s incredibly freeing to acknowledge that we don’t fully know God’s character enough to trust Him. This recognition gives us a way forward – a way out! 

And here’s the simple solution: learn more about the One you’re trusting. 😍

His character. 

How He describes Himself. 

How He describes you. 

What He promises you. 

And the best way to do that is to read the letter He wrote to you – the Bible. It’s right there, sitting on your table, waiting to be opened.

What God Says About Control and Trust 

So let’s put it into practice right now.

The Bible speaks volumes about the freedom and peace that come from trusting God instead of grasping for control. As you read these verses, let your anxious striving take a breather and soak up God’s words. They’re written to you, for this moment in time. 🎁

1. Proverbs 3:5-6
   "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."
   
   God knows that your understanding is limited, yet you often default to managing life by your own reasoning. He asks you to trust in Him with all the details, promising that as you surrender, He’ll direct your steps.
   
   
2. Matthew 6:34
   "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."
   
   In a world constantly pulling you toward planning and control, Jesus reminds you to live in the present, trusting God to provide for each day’s needs. This verse speaks to the freedom you find when you let go of worries and entrust them to God.
   
   
3. Philippians 4:6-7
   "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
   
   God invites you to release your anxiety by turning to Him in prayer. Rather than holding tightly to control, He gently calls you to bring your concerns to Him and allow His peace to calm your heart. 
4. Psalm 46:10
   "Be still, and know that I am God."
   
   This verse is a powerful, simple reminder that you don’t have to be in charge of every outcome. God’s sovereignty gives you the freedom to pause, breathe, and trust that He is in control, no matter how uncertain your situation may feel. 

5. Jeremiah 17:7-8
   "But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green."
   
   When you root yourself in God’s strength instead of your own, He sustains you through every season. This image of a thriving tree illustrates the peace and resilience that come from relying on God’s provision. 

6. Isaiah 41:10
   "So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."
   
   God’s presence and strength are constant. He assures you that you don’t need to fear or take control of situations to feel safe; He’s always with you, ready to take care of you.

7. Psalm 37:5
   "Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will act."
   
   God commands you to entrust your plans to Him. By committing your ways to the Lord, you actively choose to let go of control, trusting that He’ll work things out for your good.

8. Romans 8:28
   "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."
   
   This verse reassures you that you don’t need to orchestrate everything yourself. God is actively working in every situation for your benefit, even when things seem out of control. 

What Happens When We Let Go of Control? 

Letting go can be scary, I know. 

So what can you expect when you loosen your grip and trust God to take care of you? 

When you trust God instead of anxiously managing every detail of your life, peace becomes a natural byproduct. Philippians 4:7 says that God's peace surpasses all human understanding and guards your heart and mind. His peace isn’t dependent on circumstances like our peace is. 

Letting go of control doesn't mean life becomes stress-free, but it shifts that heavy weight from you to God. When you release the need to control everything, you also release the anxiety that comes with it.

Relying on God requires faith, and as you let go, your trust and intimacy with God grow. This process starts small, but builds over time, allowing you to stand firm in faith even during difficult trials. 

Instead of trying to manipulate the outcome, trusting God gives you a front-row seat to His devotion to you. As you trust him with more and more things in your life, you will see him provide for every single one of them. 

 When you stop trying to force the outcome, you start recognizing God's leading. You're no longer trying to figure out what YOU think is best for your life. You trust that whatever way God leads you is the best use of your time, energy, talents, and lifetime. 

Trusting the Lord allows you to live in the moment, no longer bogged down by the pressure to make everything work out a certain way. Instead of restricting you, this freedom allows you to appreciate God's many blessings without rushing past them. 

Letting go of control frees you up to experience the soul-deep rest you've been craving. You no longer need to do it all because you trust that God is more than capable of handling everything that comes your way. 

How the Jesus Challenge Frees You From Control

My virtual Jesus challenge is the path to freedom you’ve been waiting for. Every element of this challenge is designed to help you know God more personally and deeply. 

And what did we land on as the solution to letting go of control and trusting God more? Learning more about His character! 🙌

Here’s how my 40-day Scripture challenge helps break the strong grip of control. 

The Bible is filled with God’s wisdom, goodness, and promises. It’s the guidebook to His character, the very thing we fail to understand when we struggle to trust Him. As you spend time reading His Word every day, you’ll get a clear, personal picture of this God who loves you and would do anything for you. And trusting someone you know and love is natural! 

A daily walk removes you from your circumstances and helps clear your mind. These short daily walks become a sacred time to reset your perspective, breathe easy, and move your body. 

Prayer or reflection is key to letting go of control and trusting the Lord. It positions your heart as surrendered to God, trusting Him – even if it feels scary – to be enough when you are not. As you bring your worries and concerns to God in prayer, He promises to replace them with peace and freedom. 

When you join my 40-day Scripture challenge, you’re added to a private Facebook group dedicated to cheering you on! This is a safe place to share your struggles, victories, thoughts, and needs. I encourage you to find an accountability partner because letting go of control can be hard. Talk to someone willing to ask the hard questions and hold you accountable. 

Included in my virtual Jesus challenge are optional daily challenges. They help push you out of your comfort zone to apply your Scripture reading. It’s a perfect way to make theory real-life and personal. 

The Jesus Challenge is not about achieving spiritual perfection– it's about releasing control and embracing a journey where God's strength meets your every need. Through these small daily habits, you learn to let go of control, live with intention, and find lasting peace that flows from a deep trust in God. 

Are You Ready for some Long-Overdue Freedom? 

Letting go of control isn’t easy. 😫

It all starts by trusting God with one small thing. 

↪️And then another small thing. 

↪️And then two more things. 

↪️And eventually, you will see so much evidence of God's faithfulness in your life, you can trust Him with that big scary thing you can't seem to let go of yet.

Imagine a life where the weight of managing everything is lifted. Where you're free to rest,  knowing someone else is taking care of all the details. 🥹

My virtual Jesus challenge is your invitation to step into that freedom. It's a practical way to make the shift from you sitting in the driver's seat to surrendering control to a capable, careful God. 

Why wait and keep spinning in the vicious cycle of control? God’s freedom is available and waiting for you. 

Sign up for the Jesus Challenge below. I can’t wait to meet you and hear how God leads you into true peace and rest.