A daily occurrence at the store where I work involves a toddler throwing a tantrum. Mark Buchanan writes about control, self control, and leaning into God for help.
Toddlers brim with the impulse to control (even as they bungle the execution). A 3-year-old will resort to wild-eyed tantrums, incessant whining, ear-piercing screams, coy manipulation, and flat-out demand to try to get their way: to control their parent, or sibling, or playmate, or the situation at hand.
But as the toddler’s attempts to control things escalate, his ability to control himself deteriorates. His need to be in control makes him more and more out-of-control. The results are not pretty.
As we mature some time in our adulthood, we give up trying to control others and learn to control ourselves.
The lovely irony is that the self-controlled exert wide influence. People listen to them. Heed them. Seek them. Follow them.
In other words, the self-controlled accomplish the very thing the controlling desperately want but only ever sabotage.
Every nerve jolt to freak out, melt down, start yelling, fly into rage or panic is a divine cue to slow down, breathe deep, start praying, and lean into God.
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