With the government shut down, once again, uncertainty has swept across our nation. Riots are breaking out. News headlines are filled with words like “budget deadlock,” “economic turmoil,” and “civil unrest.” It feels like everything familiar is being shaken. People are anxious, wondering how long this will last, what it will mean for their families, and if things will ever return to normal.
But here’s what I’ve learned through seasons just like this: when you understand that God—not the government, not the economy, and not your paycheck—is your source, it becomes much easier to release control. God’s provision isn’t dependent on politics, peace treaties, or pay schedules. He is Jehovah Jireh—the Lord who provides—and His supply chain never shuts down.
Have you ever been in a season where you tried everything to fix a situation, but no matter what you did, nothing worked? You prayed, planned, adjusted, and pushed forward, but it felt like life was spinning out of control. I’ve been there more times than I can count. I like to know where I’m going, how I’ll get there, and what I’ll face along the way. But if I’ve learned anything, it’s this: God doesn’t always show us the map because He wants us to trust the Maker of the map.
Letting go of control isn’t easy. It feels unnatural—like releasing the steering wheel while speeding down a mountain road. But when you realize that God is the One in the driver’s seat, everything changes. What feels like trouble may actually be transportation—the very thing God is using to move you into your destiny. The uncertainty we see around us isn’t meant to shake our faith—it’s meant to strengthen our trust in the One who never changes.
1. When Trouble Becomes Transportation
Some of the greatest moves of God in Scripture began with discomfort. Joseph’s journey to the palace started with betrayal and a pit. Moses’ calling began with rejection and exile. Jonah’s revival came through the belly of a fish. Paul’s greatest ministry expansion happened while in prison.
In each of these stories, what looked like trouble was really transportation. God used those moments to shift, shape, and send His people into purpose.
Maybe your finances are tight right now. Maybe you’re uncertain about your job or your future. But even in seasons of lack, God has a plan. The same God who sent manna in the wilderness and multiplied loaves and fish can meet every one of your needs. Trouble isn’t always a sign that God has left you—it might be proof that He’s moving you.
When Jonah ran from God’s command, he found himself in a storm, tossed overboard, and swallowed by a great fish. But that fish wasn’t punishment—it was transportation. It carried him to the exact place God wanted him to be.
2. The Illusion of Control
We often live under the illusion that if we can just manage well enough, plan long enough, and work hard enough, we can control the outcomes of our lives. But as Proverbs 19:21 reminds us, “Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.”
When the systems around us crumble, it reveals how little control we truly have—and how much peace we can experience when we surrender control to God. Trying to manage everything yourself is exhausting. It’s like rowing against the current of God’s will. You can paddle all you want, but you’ll only wear yourself out.
Letting go doesn’t mean you’re giving up; it means you’re looking up. It means saying, “God, I trust You more than I trust my understanding.”
3. The Blessing of Surrender
In Acts 27, Paul was aboard a ship headed into a violent storm. The crew did everything they could to survive—they threw cargo overboard, tried to steer through the wind, and fought against the waves. Eventually, they realized they had no control left. They let the ship be driven by the storm.
And that’s when God stepped in.
Sometimes God waits until we’ve exhausted all our human strength before He reveals His divine power. The moment we stop striving, He starts steering.
Surrender isn’t weakness—it’s wisdom. When we let go, we make room for God to take over. And His grip on our lives is far stronger and steadier than ours will ever be.
4. Faith Over Frustration
When things don’t go our way, frustration creeps in. We ask, “Why me? Why now? Why this?” But faith asks a different question: “God, what are You teaching me through this?”
In John 13:7, Jesus told Peter, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” That’s the essence of faith—trusting God’s unseen hand even when you can’t make sense of His plan.
The shutdown, the layoffs, the delays, the uncertainty—they’re not random. God is using even this to strengthen your faith and deepen your dependence on Him. The trouble you’re facing today might be transportation to your tomorrow.
5. When You Can’t Control the Wind, Adjust the Sails
We can’t control the wind, but we can control how we respond to it. Instead of panicking when things shift, we can adjust our sails. We can choose peace over fear, prayer over worry, and praise over despair.
Isaiah 26:3 says, “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in You.” Peace doesn’t come from control—it comes from trust.
When you understand that God’s provision flows from His kingdom and not from your paycheck, you can rest easy, even when the economy shakes. He’s not just the God of the mountaintop—He’s the God of the wilderness too.
6. Your Trouble Has Purpose
I can look back on moments in my life that felt like everything was falling apart, only to realize later that everything was falling into place. What I thought was rejection was really redirection. What I saw as loss was actually positioning.
Romans 8:28 reminds us, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him.” That means all things—not just the good, easy, or comfortable ones. Even a shutdown, even a loss, even a delay.
God can use trouble as transportation. The very thing that feels like it’s holding you back could be what’s launching you forward.
7. Let Go and Let God Drive
Maybe right now, God is whispering to your heart: Let go. Stop trying to control what only He can handle. Stop trying to fix what only He can restore. Stop clinging to what He’s calling you to release.
The same God who parted the Red Sea, who shut the mouths of lions, and who walked on water is still on the throne today. He hasn’t stepped down just because the government has.
Letting go doesn’t mean losing—it means gaining something far better: peace, purpose, and perspective. When you loosen your grip on control, you tighten your hold on faith.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father,
Thank You for being my source, my provider, and my peace. Even when the world feels uncertain, I know that You never change. Help me to release my grip on control and trust You fully with my finances, my future, and my fears. Use every challenge as transportation to move me closer to Your purpose. Calm my heart in the storm and remind me that You are still in control. I choose to rest in Your promises today. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Life-Giving Words of Hope & Encouragement 
Leave a comment