August 31, 2025 Devo

Psalm 90 ends with a verse that is a good one for all of us who are a bit “results-driven.” It reminds us that we need to put our efforts into the Hands of God and trust Him with them. I don’t know about you, but I need to hear that sometimes. As a pastor, I can get frustrated about wanting to see MORE. More people, more programs, more lives changed, more workers, more impact in our community. The problem is, for all of my efforts, I can’t control much of those things.
The same goes for working with people. I often want to have more success influencing those around me than I do. I want to see people I advise actually USE that advice. I want to see people I warn actually HEED those warnings. I want to see people who have asked for my help to truly LISTEN to what I say and DO the things that I know can turn their lives around. But I’ve discovered I can’t control people either. The only thing I can control is the effort I put forth and the attitude I do it with. Then, I have to do something really hard. I have to leave it with God. My job is to be excellently faithful. It’s up to God to bless those efforts and bring about success.
Maybe you’ve struggled with some of that, too. Maybe there are some of you who have been giving yourself wholeheartedly to a ministry or a job, and you’re not seeing the return you want. And you’re growing tired and frustrated. There are probably some of you who have been banging your head against a wall trying to get some people in your life to change. But no matter what you say or how you say it, they’re not changing. They’re making the same stupid decisions. They’re ending up in the same places, or with the same kinds of people, or with the same problems. And you’re about to pull your hair out. But don’t. Sometimes the best you can do is the best you can do, and it’s just not up to you anymore. It’s time to let go and let God.
You can control your efforts, and you can control your attitude, but you can’t always control the outcomes, and you can almost NEVER control people. Do something courageous today. Put that ministry and those people in the Hands of God. If you’re doing your part, let Him do His. Let go of the stress. Let go of the frustration. Let go of feeling as if it’s all up to you. Let go of feeling responsible for things over which you have little to no control. Let go and let God. Focus on being excellently faithful, and leave the results up to God. That’s God’s Word for you today.