How to Let Go and Trust God When Life Feels Out of Control
Are you going through a season of hard times? If there was ever a time in my life when I needed to let go and trust God, it is now. This past year brought an overwhelming number of transitions and trials. My beloved mother passed away, and I underwent surgery for breast cancer. Both of my children graduated from college and then came a wonderful wedding—my son married his beautiful bride. Then, just as quickly as we celebrated that joy, they moved to a different country. On top of all that, my daughter Leanna became a professional ballerina in dance ministry. She is raising money for her first year, has no job, and is currently without a permanent home. Life has been anything but steady or easy.
Yet, in this whirlwind of uncertainty, I’ve found myself clinging to one truth over and over: I must let go and trust God.
What Does It Mean to Let Go and Trust God?
We all want the most important parts of our lives to go smoothly. Whether it’s a relationship, a job, or a major life event—like a wedding—we crave control over how things unfold. Take a bride, for example. She hopes for the perfect day, where every detail matches her vision. The more important the event or situation, the more deeply we desire control over it. Unfortunately, that often brings along its close companions: fear and panic.
The Bible gives us a clear picture of what happens when fear leads to control. In 1 Samuel 13, King Saul was overwhelmed by the threat of the Philistine army. In fear and impatience, he decided to offer a burnt sacrifice himself instead of waiting for the prophet Samuel, violating God’s command. Samuel rebuked him, saying, “You have done a foolish thing… You have not kept the command the Lord your God gave you; if you had, he would have established your kingdom over Israel for all time” (1 Samuel 13:13, NIV).
When we panic and grasp for control, we often miss God’s greater plan. We fixate on the one tree in front of us and lose sight of the entire forest. To let go and trust God is to shift our perspective—to stop obsessing over one detail and start recognizing the larger work God is doing. It’s an act of surrender. It means acknowledging that His will is greater than our desires. Even if the journey is uncomfortable, painful, or not the outcome we want, we can choose to praise Him through it. Letting go doesn’t mean we don’t care; it means we trust that God cares more than we ever could.
Why Is It So Hard to Let Go and Trust God?
When I got married, my dad gave my husband a piece of advice, half-joking but deeply meaningful: “She’s your problem now!” We laugh about it often, but underneath the humor was trust. My dad trusted my husband enough to let go and entrust me to someone else’s care.
That’s what makes letting go so hard—trust. It’s easy to say “God is in control” until we’re faced with circumstances that challenge our sense of safety, purpose, or identity. Giving our children, our health, or our future into God’s hands requires us to believe He is good, even when things don’t feel good.
Saul couldn’t wait for Samuel because he feared the Philistines more than he trusted God. We often do the same. When fear grows louder than faith, we take matters into our own hands, forgetting that God sees the whole forest. The tension between fear and faith is real—but so is the choice to let go and trust God even when we’re trembling.
How to Let Go and Trust God
Psalm 25:1 (NIV) says, “In you, Lord my God, I put my trust.” That simple declaration is the foundation for learning how to surrender control. If you’re wondering how to let go and trust God practically, here are some steps that have helped me:
1. Give Your Burden a Name
Start by identifying what you’re holding onto. Name it. Is it your health? A financial burden? A marriage or a prodigal child? Giving it a name makes your burden real, and it positions your heart to release it. You can’t surrender something you’re unwilling to acknowledge.
2. Know Who God Is
Spend time in Scripture learning about God’s character. Psalm 91:2 (NIV) says, “I will say of the Lord, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.’” Trust grows when we know who God is—not just in theory, but in practice. He is faithful, strong, loving, just, and kind. The more we know Him, the easier it becomes to let go and trust God with our most fragile worries.
3. Acknowledge God’s Ways Are Higher
Isaiah 55:9 (NIV) reminds us, “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” Surrender doesn’t mean you stop caring. It means you trust that God sees what you cannot and knows what you don’t. He is not surprised by your circumstances, and His plan is not hindered by your fear.
4. Be Okay with God’s Will—Even If It’s Not What You Want
This may be the hardest part. Sometimes, God’s plan doesn’t align with ours. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NIV) says, “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” We are called to give thanks—not for all circumstances, but in them. Even when life is painful or unclear, we can praise Him. Gratitude is a powerful act of trust.
5. Put On the Shield of Faith
Ephesians 6:16 (NIV) says, “Take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.” The enemy loves to whisper lies into our anxiety: “God has forgotten you.” “This will never get better.” “You’re on your own.” Faith is our defense. When we hold up our shield of faith, we stand firm and say, “I choose to let go and trust God.”
6. Pray Without Ceasing
Prayer is not a last resort; it’s our lifeline. Talk to God about everything. Be honest. Tell Him what scares you, what confuses you, what you’re hoping for. Invite Him into your fear, and He will respond with peace. Philippians 4:6-7 promises that when we pray with thanksgiving, “the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
A Prayer to Let Go and Trust God
If you’re ready to surrender, let this prayer guide your heart.
Dear Lord,
Psalm 31:14 says, “But I trust in you, Lord; I say, ‘You are my God.’” I know You are good, and I know Your ways are higher than my own. I also know that faith as small as a mustard seed can move mountains (Luke 17:6). In Jesus’ name, I give You ____________________ that I have been holding onto, and I trust You. I let this go into Your hands for safe keeping. Regardless of what happens, I trust You. I choose to let go and trust You, Lord, with every detail of my life. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Letting go is not a one-time event—it’s a daily decision. When life feels out of control, you have two options: cling tighter in fear or surrender in faith. May you choose to let go and trust God, not because you know the outcome, but because you know the One who holds it.
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