As women, most of us don’t consider ourselves to be control-freaks. But how far can things shift out of your grasp before you start feeling uncomfortable? If I’m honest, the answer is, “Not very far.” I like routine. I like it when things are predictable. Nothing wrong with that until I start moving into panic mode as soon as things become less than routine and a bit unpredicatable.

That stings. Sometimes I struggle to trust God with the everyday challenges of life, in spite of the fact that He had the power to save my soul. I’ve noticed this lack of trust also spills over into my marriage and other relationships.

I know I’m not the only one who has a difficult time with this issue. The problem is nothing new – it began in the Garden of Eden. Satan’s plan to deceive Eve and cause Adam to sin was successful:

Satan was clever. I like the way authors Mary Kassian and Nancy Leigh DeMoss put it, “…we do know that his (Satan’s) approach to the woman deliberately subverted God’s design of Adam’s headship in the relationship.” Eve carried on the conversation with the serpent as if her husband wasn’t there, and Adam did nothing to stop her.

If I’m not careful, I do the same thing. When I’m tempted, instead of praying for wisdom or asking for my husband’s advice, I take control and rely on what I think is best. The result isn’t pretty. 

Sin fractured Adam and Eve’s relationship with God. Now, instead of walking in harmony with God in the cool of the day, Adam and Eve hid. Instead of waiting for God’s solution to their problem they took things into their own hands, sewing fig leaves together to cover up their nakedness.

Sin also shattered trust between Adam and Eve and we see them participating in the first blame-game in history:

Not accepting responsibility for my actions is wrong. It stems from a prideful need to be right at any cost. I’ve learned the hard way that it’s more important to be righteous than right, and more often than not it’s accompanied by an apology. 

God created man and woman in His image. Man was given the responsibility to initiate and lead the home – to provide for and protect those in His care. Woman was created to respond to the initiative of her husband. Take to heart the following words, “They were each created with a unique design so they could come together and operate as a unified whole.” They were created equal – showcasing different attributes of God. Together, their lives pointed to Jesus Christ.

Accepting God’s control and following His path will make my life a beautiful reflection of Him.