If you’re in a situation where you feel like you have very little control or insufficient involvement, it would be common and understandable for you to feel anxious or depressed at times. You may be tempted to give up and become inactive within your circumstances. While it may be true that you don’t have as much control in a particular situation as you would like or think you should, your perception of control can be making it even worse. In actuality, you may have more control than you think; but aren’t seeing it that way because you’re overly focused on the areas where you don’t have any control.

Lean On The One Who Is In Total Control

Fix your eyes on the Sovereign Lord so that you may take refuge in Him (Ps. 141:8). Then, remind your soul not to be downcast since your hope is in God (Ps. 43:5).

Remember The Control You Have In The Area Where It Most Counts

Christ has set you free (Gal. 5:1), so start from your place of freedom. The most important area where you already have control is in your relationship with the Lord. A situation or person may attempt to influence your thoughts, but you have the power to decide how much of your mind you put toward intimacy with the Son of God. So, in Him, and through faith in Him, you can approach the Sovereign God with confidence (Eph. 3:12), and pray to Him throughout your day about everything (1 Thess. 5:17).

Watch Small Areas of Control Grow into Bigger Areas of Control

As you pray about your situation and open your mind for creative solutions, God can show you areas where you do have some control. He’ll show you what first steps to take to feel a little more involved, engaged, and stronger in your situation. For example, He may ask you to serve someone else even when your situation is making you weary; He may remind you to be thankful every day or spend time studying one of His books; or He may suggest that you enhance a tiny portion of the atmosphere you’re in by making it useful, attractive, and honoring to Him. And before you know it, those small things will lead you to feeling more control over certain aspects of your situation, even if your overall circumstances don’t change. Ultimately, being engaged with God and your situation in this way can really help reduce your depressed and anxious symptoms.

Though the fig tree may not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines; though the labor of the olive may fail, and the fields yield no food…I will rejoice in the Lord…The Lord God is my strength. He will make my feet like deer’s feet, and He will make me walk on my high hills. (Hab. 3:17-19)