The Illusion of Control

Did you know that the button you press to change the walk sign at a crosswalk doesn’t actually work? Yes, at some point they all did. Once they rigged the stop lights to automatic timers, they essentially turned off the button that would “notify” the light that a pedestrian was waiting to walk. Why leave the button? Because it gives everyone the illusion of control, which comforts us, which makes us “happier”. When standing on a street corner waiting to cross, we push the button once, maybe twice, maybe even three times to encourage it to change more quickly. We don’t trust that the light will change, maybe it’s forgotten that people like to use the crosswalk, maybe it will prioritize cars over pedestrians and never turn. So we push the button, and stand a little straighter with the confidence that we are in control of when the light turns. Even though when you are at the same intersection in a vehicle, there is no button to push, you simply wait somewhat patiently believing the light will eventually change and give you the opportunity to continue traveling to your destination. When it comes to the cross walk, though, we are so untrusting that we have to be given a button that gives us the illusion that we have the power to control the situation.

This translates to our walk with the Lord. We are under the illusion that we have control, and often our trust in Him wavers. We take matters quickly and huffily into our own hands rather than confidently trust in His sovereignty, love, power, and wisdom. Rather than hand control over to the one who literally made and called us to Himself, and trust that He works all things together for our good (Romans 8:28), we push the button over and over again, believing we are forcing the light to change so we can go our way.

This lack of trust is one of the many things we as believers are on a lifetime journey of cultivating. Every trial we get through, every success, every miraculous provision, gently stretches us and the end result is a tad more trust. It’s a scaffolding effect. God brought us through this excruciating trial as a teenager, and we gained a little bit more trust. When the trial comes again at 26 and you are still living alone, wondering if your life partner will ever be found, you can think back and say to yourself, “God brought me through this hard thing, I can trust that He will bring me through again.” When you are 30, welcoming your first child into the world, you can look back and say “God did bring me through,” and your trust in Him deepens a little bit more.

I believe it is the human inclination to expect ourselves to be good at everything right away. Perhaps it’s just mine? Trust doesn’t work like that. Trust in the Lord takes time, and it absolutely takes the trials. Without the trials, we would never be forced to lean on God and trust in Him more. Trust takes time. The Lord knows that, and He is unwavering. He walks by your side in the deep, full trust, and the weak and worried trust. He never leaves or forsakes you (Hebrews 13:5) whether you are trying to take control into your own hands or if you are patiently waiting for Him to change the light.

I want to encourage you today with this verse.

Trust in him at all times, O people;

pour out your heart before him;

God is a refuge for us. Selah

Psalm 62:8

He is in ultimate control of all things, and this means that you can trust in Him at all times, in every situation, and in all trials. Simply pour out your heart before him. He is your refuge. I pray that you carry this with you through your week and that it lifts you up.