Take Heart: The Illusion of Control

There is something about cancer that quietly changes you.

Not all at once. Not dramatically.

Just little pieces at a time.

One of the hardest pieces for me has been letting go of control.

I miss work.

I miss serving the people who walk through the doors of Serenity Spa.

I miss creating, planning, helping others, and yes… I even miss making money.

For someone who enjoys staying busy and solving problems, sitting still has been one of the greatest challenges of this journey.

During my last chemotherapy treatment, I met a lovely woman receiving treatment beside me. We talked for a while, sharing pieces of our stories between the beeping machines and IV bags.

Before she left, she walked over, sat in the chair across from me, and quietly said something that has stayed with me.

“I am struggling because I have lost control.”

She paused and then admitted that she had a meltdown walking into the oncology clinic just to schedule appointments. So did I.

Her honesty was refreshing.

In that moment, I realized something I’ve been learning all along.

The truth is…

I was never really in complete control of my health.

None of us are.

Life can change with one phone call.

One doctor’s appointment.

One diagnosis.

One unexpected turn.

That realization could be frightening.

Or…

It can become freeing.

Because while I don’t have complete control over my health, I do have control over something incredibly important.

I have control over my attitude.

I have control over what fills my mind.

I have control over where I place my hope.

I have control over how I treat others.

I have control over whether fear or faith gets the louder voice.

Most importantly, I get to choose whether I carry every burden myself… or place it into God’s hands.

As I shared this with my new chemo friend, I watched something beautiful happen.

Her face softened.

Her shoulders relaxed.

Her eyes lit up.

For just a moment, she wasn’t carrying everything alone anymore.

That conversation reminded me that surrender isn’t giving up.

It’s giving over.

It is trusting that God is holding what was never ours to carry in the first place.

Jesus never promised we would understand every circumstance.

But He did promise His presence.

Sometimes the greatest peace isn’t found when life comes back under our control.

Sometimes peace comes when we finally stop trying to control what belongs to God.

So today, I want to leave you with a question.

What burden are you trying to carry that God never asked you to hold?

Is it your health?

Your finances?

Your marriage?

Your children?

Your future?

Your unanswered prayers?

What would it feel like to loosen your grip… just a little… and place that burden into His hands?

You may discover what I am still learning each day.

When we release control, we often receive peace.

Bloom Moment 🌹

“Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.” — 1 Peter 5:7

Today, choose one worry you’ve been carrying. Picture yourself placing it into God’s hands. You don’t have to pick it back up tomorrow. Trust Him to carry what is too heavy for you.

Take heart.

He has you… even when life feels out of your control.

🩷 Missy