The Cost of Control
Why We Crave It, the Anxiety It Gives Us, and the Real Power God Promises
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We all wish we had more control. When our relationships are strained, when our bodies refuse to cooperate, when the future is uncertain, control promises security and peace. If only I were in charge, we dream. And this illusion seems more attainable than ever. Technology, science, medicine, and the internet all promise us ever-increasing mastery over our world. The problem is, control is a "devil's deal." The more we seek it, the more it betrays us. In place of predictability, it gives us anxiety. In place of certainty, it creates more complexity. And in place of unity, it divides. It's not just that we cannot control things; it's that we break them even more when we try. Thankfully the answer to our craving is not simply to "let go and let God." When our kids aren't listening, when our loved ones are self-destructing, or when our health is declining, we don't have to scramble after control, nor do we have to throw up our hands. Instead, God has given us a better tool. In this culturally insightful and eye-opening book, Sharon Hodde Miller helps us discover the real power God has given us in Christ, to exercise influence over ourselves and our lives.
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I find myself rating this book higher than I probably would've if I had read it on my own. I was taking my time to read this, read the scripture she references and digest it all with a group of other woman in my Bible study and as a result, it sparked so many good conversations.
While I think the book itself deserves at least 4 stars, I'm bumping it up because of how solid the principles are. The overarching idea is that control is the core of most sins. It's at the core of the original sin, and we have to walk a fine line to keep ourselves from demanding control where we should not have it. Some of the personal examples weaken the book a bit, but if you can look past the first few paragraphs in each chapter, you'll find some seriously good content.
I believe any Christian could benefit from this book, but especially those who deal with stress and anxiety and have a hard time pinpointing where that stems from. However, I think this is a book you almost have to read along side others. It's meant to spark discussion and the questions really do get you opening up in ways you might not expect. I think reading this on my own, I would have missed some of the value of it.
Overall, this book changed my perspective of sin and power and authority and it was definitely a “right time, right book” situation. This is a resource I'll be revisiting in the future.
