The Idol of Control: Surrendering to God’s Way

Control is one of the most deceptive idols in the Christian life. It often masquerades as responsibility, wisdom, or self-protection. But beneath the surface, the need to control is often rooted in fear, mistrust, and unresolved emotional pain. In Be Transformed – New Life Awaits by John Robin Murphy, John’s story reveals how even seemingly harmless behaviors—like watching television—can become spiritual strongholds when they’re used to avoid surrender.

After years of spiritual growth, John found himself in a dry season. Prayer was difficult, Scripture felt distant, and his connection with God seemed muted. In this place of spiritual frustration, he turned to television as a source of comfort and escape. What started as a way to unwind became a nightly ritual—one that dulled his spiritual sensitivity and fed old patterns of sin.

The Holy Spirit began to convict John that his dependence on TV wasn’t just a bad habit—it was an idol. It had become a substitute for God’s presence, a way to control his emotional state without trusting the Lord to meet him in his discomfort. The deeper issue wasn’t entertainment—it was control.

This realization led John to a powerful truth: idols form when we try to meet legitimate needs in illegitimate ways. His need for peace, rest, and emotional relief was real—but instead of turning to God, he turned to the screen. And like all idols, it demanded more and more of his time, attention, and heart.

Surrendering control is never easy. For John, it meant giving up something familiar and comforting. But as he repented and laid down the idol, he experienced a breakthrough. His prayer life deepened, his hunger for God’s Word returned, and his spiritual sensitivity was restored. The very thing that had blocked his connection with God became the catalyst for transformation.

This post is a call to examine your own life. What are the areas where control has taken root? Are there behaviors, habits, or dependencies that you use to manage your emotions instead of trusting God? The answer isn’t more discipline—it’s surrender.

God doesn’t ask us to give up control because He wants to take something from us. He asks us to surrender because He wants to give us something better—peace, freedom, and intimacy with Him. When we release our grip and trust His way, we open the door to healing and transformation.