Football is a fast-paced sport. You’re always on the go, with new changes and trades happening constantly. Right now I’m in a holding pattern.

In my career as a professional athlete, I’ve had to continually let go and trust God to take over. For each of the first three years that I played in the NFL, I was signed to a new team in week one. Once Tiffany and I began to think that one city would be home for us—that God had put us there for a reason, with new relationships formed and patterns made—we would need to uproot and start somewhere else. But each time, we would soon realize again that God had a bigger plan.

Right now I’m in a different stage. I’m learning not only to trust God’s plan for my life, but also to be patient in the uncertainty of what’s next. I’m currently preparing for football, waiting and ready to get a call any day from a team. And at the same time, I am preparing for and praying about God’s plan for me after football. I know that whatever comes next—whether that’s football or not—is going to be great. It always is.

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” —Joshua 1:9

It’s easy, from our limited perspective, to feel a dire need to control everything, but God has a much broader view of our lives than we do. He is sovereign and has an amazing plan. It’s humbling to think about all the things that we worry and stress over when in reality, God has blessed us with so much! He always provides and always prepares a way for us to follow His plan.

I’m not in control. Every time I think I’m in control God brings about a big change in my life. It’s almost as if He is telling me, “I can do so much better for you than you can do yourself. Trust Me!” The more I let go and let God take the reins, the more I see His work in my life.

I’m not supposed to be in control. But I am supposed to to lead. As men, God calls us to give up control and follow Him. When we follow Him, that’s when we are the best leaders we can be. I’ve seen this happen in our own household. When I lead my wife and children, the fruitfulness of our family is abundant. When I’m controlling, things begin to fall apart.

“For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, His body, of which He is the Savior.” —Ephesians 5:23

God has equipped and called men to be leaders, even when we are uncertain where God is leading us. He simply calls us to follow Him and trust that His plan is best. Instead of taking this call to action as permission to control or dominate others, we are to use it as an opportunity to serve and care for our families, and ultimately, to lead them closer to Christ.

—Tyler Clutts

Tyler Clutts is a regular contributor to The Increase, providing monthly articles and opinions.

Check out Tyler’s Increase profile here: http://theincrease.com/author/tylerclutts/  

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