I Want to Trust You, but I Don't: Moving Forward When You’re Skeptical of Others, Afraid of What God Will Allow, and Doubtful of Your Own Discernment

by Lysa TerKeurst

However control plays out for you and whatever reasons there are that shaped you this way, please know that trying to keep things under control using realistic measures is a good quality. But if you and I are holding on so tightly that our stress levels and anxiety are making it challenging for others to be around us, or we are constantly on edge with burnout nipping at our emotions, we need to recognize this isn’t a sustainable way to live. In other words, if we clench our jaws throughout our days, it will be really hard to smile about and enjoy our lives. Where does this anxiety come from? For me, it’s the tension between what I want and what is actually happening. When something doesn’t feel right, look right, or go according to plan, I want to do whatever I can to fix it. I can’t stand to get caught off guard. If something bad is going to happen, I at least want to see it coming in time to brace for impact. I want to manage the fallout before it happens.