“The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into His hand. He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”—John 3:35–36 (NKJV)

The Bible makes it very clear from beginning to end that God is in control and has authority over all things. He created the universe and all that is in it, and He alone will determine how it comes to an end. Scripture also makes it equally clear that all of His power and authority was embodied in the person of Jesus Christ for the purpose of reconciling us to God. Jesus has authority over life and death and everything in between (see Colossians 1:15–20). 

Why then is it so easy for many Christians to believe that Jesus has authority over life and death, but not trust Him to have authority over the “everything in between” part? Why is it easy to have faith that one day when we die we will stand next to Jesus, but much more difficult to live each day here and now as if Jesus is standing next to us, trusting Him to have authority over the little things? We trust Him with our eternity . . . why is it so hard to trust Him with our relationships, finances, and other major life decisions?

Here is the undeniable reality: If Jesus has authority over your life and death then He does have the authority over every issue and situation in your life, major and minor, massive and minute. It is usually a matter of surrender on our part that can make things so difficult. When we try to hold on to everything and do it our way, thinking we know best, things usually go south. 

The world and our flesh pull us toward decisions that will make us comfortable and complacent. Most of the time, this will lead to compromise. So, what should we do? We must continually surrender our thoughts, desires, feelings, and actions to the power and authority of the Holy Spirit, asking Him what we should do in each situation. Giving Him authority over each area of our lives allows Him to transform us and use us for His purposes. 

DIG: Why do you think it is easy to trust God with the “big things” (i.e. salvation), but so often hard to trust him with the small things?

DISCOVER: Is there an area of your life that has been compromised that needs to be surrendered or re-surrendered to the authority of Jesus?

DISPLAY: Pray and surrender this area of your life to the Lord and ask Him to help you take steps in a new direction.