Learning to Let Go of the Wheel

Faith @ Work Monthly Message: May 12, 2008
Featured Speaker:  Brandi Perea

May 2008 Luncheon Recap
Speaker:  Brandi Perea

“I wanted to honor my husband, but I wasn't.  I wanted to follow God but I wasn't.”
Brandi  Perea kept asking God for direction in her life, but felt like she wasn't getting any answers, until one day when the attitude of her heart came clearly into focus.

With great humility and transparency Brandi shared her story with us at last month’s luncheon.  She told us how she wanted a great assignment from God and wasn’t sure she liked what seemed to be her only option: running the printing business she and her husband owned.   Instead of embracing it as an opportunity to let God be glorified, she said to herself, “I’ll do this until You (God) tell me what I’m supposed to do.  After all, it’s better than getting a real job.” 

When Brandi and her husband decided to expand their business by purchasing another shop, doors seemed to close right and left.   As her frustration level grew, her determination to take control and make things happen grew as well.  At one point she even became possessive about the business, wanting to make all the decisions herself.  

During all this, she felt a strong tugging at her heart.  Deep down she knew that God was asking her to submit, first to Him, then to her husband.  She started looking at what God’s word said about submitting to the will of God.  She was struck especially by Job 22:21, “Submit to God and be at peace with Him; in this way prosperity will come to you.”  Finally one day in October 2007, she submitted.  She told God, “Yes!”  She talked to her husband and confessed her wrong attitude and asked him to help her be accountable to a submissive heart.  Together they agreed to seek God and proceed in faith.

And then God responded!  Within hours of their conversation, they received a phone call telling them the business they’d been trying to purchase was theirs.  God had been waiting to bless her until she “let go of the wheel!” 

Brandi will be the first to tell you it’s not all smooth sailing.  There are still days when she struggles to be in control.  But God has shown her the blessings that can come with relinquishing control and she’s determined to pursue His way.

Here are three things that she has learned about submitting daily to God’s will:
1. Refocus daily on the blessings in your life and confess any wrong attitudes
2. Go back to the promises of God and identify anything you haven’t been trusting God for
3. Let go of anything you’re holding onto too tightly so that God can give it back in the way that He chooses.