The Need For Power
“We are at our most powerful the moment we no longer need to be powerful.” Eric Micha’el Leventhal
Power. That is something that we all seem to crave from the time we are very young. Power might mean many things: the ability to control our own destiny, the ability to control others, the ability to make our own choices, and the like. We want to be in control of things and that means power.
That is what causes a conflict for so many of us, though. While we, in our humanity, might crave power, our souls seek to let go of everything so that God can be in total control of our lives. Our human nature tells us to take control and our souls tell us to let go and let God. That, by the way, is fodder for an entire life’s worth of spiritual direction.
We do know that being in power, being in control, comes with its own set of rather serious baggage. Those bags can be labelled stress, anxiety, and fear. Being in control is not all fun and games. When someone is in control, that person fears losing control. That leads to an incredible amount of stress that often induces anxiety. People in control often resort to medications to help alleviate their stress before the ulcers begin.
Do you want to be free from that kind of stress? Let go of your need to be in control. Instead, embrace God’s will for you and allow Him to be in control. God has a much better way of helping us deal with the things that life throws our way. Count on Him rather than on yourself.
FAITH ACTION: Let go of your quest to be in control and allow God to steer the course today.