Control

I learned a new song a couple of weeks ago. Mr. Reynolds led us in worship on Friday morning, and he introduced us to a song called “Control.” It’s a song about how God loves us so much that He uses us even when He doesn’t need to. The first verse of the song says, “Though I’m not entitled, still You call me Your child.” 

Entitled…That’s a word that I’ve heard a lot throughout my career in education. If you Google the definition, it says, “believing oneself to be inherently deserving of privileges or special treatment.” The example given says, “kids who feel so entitled and think the world will revolve around them.” 

I never really viewed myself as “entitled.” I grew up in the house provided for us by the church. It wasn’t in the best part of town, and we didn’t have much money. Getting hand-me-downs from either my own siblings (I was the youngest) or from church families was the norm. We never went out to eat. An ice cream cone eaten at the park was a big deal for me. 

And yet, I realized when I became an adult that I did feel entitled. When things started to get difficult and life didn’t turn out as I thought it should, I felt that I deserved to be happy. I deserved to be able to go out and have fun. I started to question why…. What I was really doing was showing just how entitled I felt I was.

If I’m honest with you and with myself, I think I still struggle with this feeling of entitlement. I work hard. I’m pretty smart. I’m basically a good person. Right? Why shouldn’t I have what I need and want? Why shouldn’t I enjoy good health and happiness? I deserve…

If I stop and look at what Jesus says about this, everything is turned upside down. From God’s standpoint, what do I deserve? 

I deserve death. I deserve condemnation. I deserve a life of separation from God.

If God actually gave me what I deserve, I wouldn’t be happy at all. I imagine there are times in my life where God didn’t give me what I wanted because He knew that it wasn’t in my best interest. He was actually protecting me from myself! The more I understand my own depravity and need of God’s grace, the more I can accept my circumstances. The more I acknowledge the fact that God really doesn’t need me to accomplish His work, the more thankful I am that He has chosen to use me anyways. 

Control – Who is in control in your life? Are you fighting for control or have you surrendered to the Almighty, Omnipotent God who loves you more than you can imagine and has your best interest at heart? Or are you hanging onto your thoughts of entitlement, which often lead to disillusionment and unhappiness? Kinda hard to think about, isn’t it?

Here is the full first verse from “Control.” If you’d like to listen to the song, click here.

Here I am
All my intentions
All my obsessions
I want to lay them all down
In Your hands
Only Your love is vital
Though I’m not entitled
Still You call me Your child

Because of His Faithfulness,
Sharon Brobst, EdD
Director