Trust in God When You Can’t Control the Outcome

When you finally let go of what you were never meant to control, that’s where real peace—and real trust in God—begins.

Jeremiah 17:7-8

[7] “But blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence. [8] They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit.

Trust.

There are so many things in our lives that are out of our control. For many people, it’s scary. We have this need to try to control the outcome of situations that feel like a big deal or serious.

Why is that? Is it because we don’t want a bad outcome? Or is it because we always want to win or come out on top? It’s probably different for each person.

From a follower of God’s perspective, we know that He is in control of the outcome, the situation, and everything in between. All we can truly control is our response and our attitude toward it. That’s where trust in God actually begins to show.

The best outcome for us hinges on our trust in God—believing that He has a purpose for us regardless of how everything turns out. If the result is we get our butts handed to us, so be it. That’s the moment when the trust we claim to have should make all the difference.

The outcome is meaningless if our trust isn’t where it’s supposed to be and we miss what we’re meant to learn.

My kids are going in for state testing this morning. I felt some anxiety about it—I want them to do well, I don’t want them to be nervous and make a mistake, and I don’t want them to feel bad if it doesn’t go the way they hope. But none of these things are controlled by me, and my anxiety isn’t changing a single thing. It’s a waste of time and energy.

Once I had that God-given moment of clarity, I shifted my focus to creating a comfortable and supportive environment for them. But to get there, I had to make a real decision. The situation didn’t suddenly get easier. The seriousness didn’t go away.

I chose trust in God.

I asked the Lord to take my anxiety and replace it with peace because I trust that He has my kids, this situation, and the outcome in His hands. What better place could they be?

Trust has to have an outward manifestation, or it isn’t real. It can’t just be a word we claim while, in the heat of the moment, we’re losing our minds and wringing our hands.

Imagine trying to fix your car’s engine—you’re in way over your head, and it’s only getting worse. “Why are these things so complicated now?!”

Then a master mechanic shows up and says, “Drop the tools. Step back. I’ve got this.”

The relief is immediate. The trust in his ability is unquestionable.

God is the master mechanic in our lives—and we’re in over our heads more often than we’d like to admit. It’s time to get out of the way. Drop the worry. Drop the anxiety. Let Him handle it.

Rest in the peace that comes from trusting His promises to take care of us.

Thank you, Father, for one more day. Amen.

Psalms 56:3

[3] But when I am afraid, I will put my trust in you.

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