From Worry to Trust: How to Release Control and Let God Lead Your Family

As a mom, the desire to protect my family and control every aspect of their lives comes naturally. I think we all can relate—whether it’s making sure they’re on the right path spiritually, keeping them from making bad decisions, or just ensuring their happiness and safety, it’s so easy to feel like we need to control it all. But what happens when we realize we can’t? What happens when we’re faced with situations we can’t fix, and we’re left feeling helpless, scared, and desperate for control? I’m currently in a season where I’ve had to come face-to-face with this reality—learning how to release control and let God take the lead in my family’s lives.

I have a son who has walked away from the faith. He still believes in God, but he wants to live life on his terms. The rules and “dos and don’ts” feel too restricting to him, and I can’t force him to make the choice I want him to make. As a parent, this is one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to face. My heart aches for him, knowing the path he’s on could lead him away from God, but I’ve had to remind myself that it’s his journey, not mine. The more I tried to control him, the further away he seemed to drift, and it broke my heart even more.

Then there’s my 13-year-old daughter. She’s always loved God, still does but recently, she’s been falling in with a crowd that’s not good for her. Friends who aren’t Christians, or even “Christian” friends with very negative influences, have begun to shape how she thinks, speaks, and acts. From the music she listens to, the video games she plays, and the way she talks to me, it’s been hard to see her changing. Worst of all, her friends have encouraged her to be sneaky behind my back. Thankfully, she comes to me and tells me what’s happening, but it’s still a struggle. And I’ll admit it, I want to control every decision she makes; I want to protect her from everything that could harm her. But I’ve had to remind myself that while I’m still her mom, she’s becoming her own person. And all I can do is guide her, love her, and pray for her.

Lastly, my husband—who can be just as hard to manage when it comes to faith. I’ve prayed for him for years, praying that he would surrender his life to God. But I had been doing it all wrong. I was nagging, pushing, arguing. It was only pushing him further away, not only from God, but also from me. It wasn’t until I surrendered him to God that I started seeing real changes. He’s asked more questions about our faith in the past few months than I could have ever imagined. And lately, he’s been confirming with me every weekend if we’re going to mass. Now that? That was God’s work.

You see, for a long time, I tried to control everything. I wanted to fix every situation, change their hearts, make them choose what I thought was best. But in doing that, I wasn’t allowing God to lead. I wasn’t trusting that He was in control and that He had a better plan. I had to learn to let go of that control and place my family’s future in His hands.

It’s still a struggle. It’s still hard. There are days I want to take control again, to step in and fix things. But I’m learning to trust. I’m learning to pray over my children, my husband, and my own heart. I’m learning that God’s timing is perfect, and His plan for our family is far greater than anything I could have imagined.

Here’s what I’ve learned through this journey:

1. We Can’t Control Everything – No matter how hard we try, there will always be things out of our control. We can’t change hearts, but God can. We can’t force decisions, but we can pray for wisdom.

2. Trusting God’s Timing – It’s hard to wait, especially when it comes to our loved ones. But God has a plan, and His timing is always perfect, even when it feels like we’ve been waiting forever.

3. Letting Go of the Need to Fix – Our job is to guide, love, and pray. We can’t fix it all, and that’s okay. Letting go of the need to fix every situation opens up space for God to work.

4. The Power of Prayer – Prayer is our most powerful tool. We can’t change anyone’s heart, but we can ask God to guide them, to give them wisdom, and to open their hearts to His will.

5. God is in Control – No matter what happens, God is in control. He’s already working on our behalf, even when we can’t see it. He loves our family even more than we do, and He has a perfect plan for each of us.

Surrendering to God’s plan has been one of the hardest lessons I’ve learned, but it’s been one of the most freeing. Letting go of control doesn’t mean I stop caring; it means I’m trusting God with every part of my family’s life. And trust me, He can handle it. So, if you’re in the same place, struggling to let go of control, just know that it’s okay. God has you, and He’s got your family. Trust in Him.

Lord, I surrender my family to You. I know that You have a perfect plan for each of them, even when it’s hard to see it. Help me to release control and trust You with every part of their lives. Teach me to be patient and to pray faithfully for their hearts. May Your will be done in their lives, and may I always trust in Your timing, even when it feels difficult. Thank You for being with me, guiding me, and loving my family even more than I do. In Jesus' name, Amen.