Cost of Control Book Cover

The Cost of Control

Why we crave it, the anxiety it gives us, and the real power God promises.

We all wish we had more control. The problem is, control is a “devil’s deal.” The more we seek it, the more it betrays us. Discover the real power God has given us in Christ, and learn about a better way to steward your influence over your life.

We all wish we had more control.

Control promises peace, and we crave it when…

  • Our relationships feel strained
  • Our bodies refuse to cooperate
  • Our kids don’t listen
  • Our loved ones are self destructing

The problem is, control is a “devil’s deal.” The more we seek it, the more it betrays us.

Need more? Hear from a few of my very first readers…

I don’t know about you, but for the last few years, I have been doing war with my longing for control. And honestly I’ve been losing. One huge part of the problem is that we’re not having conversations about how the gospel is the balm for our desire to keep it all together. No one is talking about how God’s Word is the lamp our feet so desperately need because we’re fumbling and falling over our own self-sufficiency. Instead, we’re praised when playing with the idol of control. Enter Sharon. She is our wise pal, our gentle and knowledgeable pastor friend. With care, curiosity, and boldness she’s leading us to lay down control in a kingdom way. I am so grateful. Please read this book.

Jess ConnollyAuthor of Breaking Free from Body Shame and You Are the Girl for the Job

In The Cost of Control Sharon is at her best. Her theologically rich words are wise, helpful, and transformative. Discover the freedom you were created for.

Dr. Derwin L. GrayCofounder of Transformation Church and author of How to Heal Our Racial Divide

We live in an anxious culture, and at the core of it is our need to be in control. Even more, society disciples us into an anxiety-ridden life, forming us to believe that more control is the solution. With sharp theological and psychological understanding, Sharon shows us how faulty this thinking is and opens a world of insight that we desperately need to loosen the grip—or rather be freed from the grip—of the illusion of control. This book is a gift.

Rich VillodasPastor of New Life Fellowship and author of The Deeply Formed Life

Sharon Hodde Miller is a voice every leader needs to be listening to. Sharon’s mix of confession, theological insight, and observations about the human condition in The Cost of Control are convicting, helpful, and liberating.

Carey NieuwhofSpeaker, podcaster, and bestselling author of At Your Best

I am more and more convinced that self-awareness is a good start on the road to freedom, but what we really need is a trusted guide offering us a path. In The Cost of Control Sharon Hodde Miller skillfully takes a deep dive into control—why we want it, how we wield it, and how it gets hold of us. With plenty of study, keen observation, and confession, Sharon offers us a way to explore our own control dynamics so we can be freed from their grip. I appreciate how Sharon first shows us what control offers us (which is why we want it) before showing us the cost of it and ultimately how we can yield it to God. The Cost of Control is timely and essential for thriving nowadays.

Steve CussPastor and author of Managing Leadership Anxiety

You might not think of yourself as a person who struggles with control. Think again. In this illuminating book, Sharon Hodde Miller offers a thoughtful, well-researched guide on the oldest sin of humankind and how that sin infects all of us. Her clarion call to name our control issues—and then to unravel ourselves from them—couldn’t come at a better time for our culture. Sharon is a respected truthteller, and the kind of truth she deals in here will surely set you free.

Jennifer Dukes LeeAuthor of It’s All Under Control and Growing Slow

In The Cost of Control Sharon Hodde Miller explains that our need to control everything around us comes with a cost to our spiritual, physical, and emotional health. At a time when so many of us feel out of control, this book will help bring a necessary release. Sharon doesn’t just give her advice, she gives you her pastoral presence. What if where you are right now is exactly where God can most lead you?

Heather Thompson DayAuthor of It’s Not Your Turn

Since the beginning of humanity, we have longed for control over every single aspect of our lives. And since the beginning of humanity, it has never done us any good. If you are like me, and you find yourself grasping for all kinds of control, this book is a breath of fresh air. Sharon takes the time to remind us of all the ways we are grasping for that control and how it's hurting us, but more importantly, she reminds us of the power we have through the Holy Spirit. This book is for every single one of us. There is good news for our yearning for control.

Jamie IveyBest selling author, and host of host of The Happy Hour with Jamie Ivey podcast

Purchase today →

Download the Study Guide!

We’ve put together a FREE Study Guide for you to use with your study group.

Use The Cost of Control as a group study to:

  • Engage in a group discussion on freedom
  • Dive into scripture as a group
  • Hear a special note from Sharon to group leaders

What’s inside?

The answer to our craving is not simply to “let go and let God”…

Thankfully, God has given us a better tool. In The Cost of Control, you’ll discover the real power God has given us in Christ, to exercise influence over ourselves and our lives.

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This book is for…

Anyone who’s ready to break free of the anxiety control brings.

If only I were in charge, we dream. And this illusion seems more attainable than ever. Technology, science, medicine, and the internet all promise us ever-increasing mastery over our world. But control never gives the peace it promises… instead, it produces more anxiety. If you’re ready to find a better way this book is for you!

Read More

See more books by Sharon Hodde Miller.

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