How to Let Go of Control and Let Peace Rule Your Heart

Learn how to surrender control to God by letting the peace of Christ rule your heart. Discover the biblical habit of surrendering to God’s peace each day.

I don’t know about you, but sometimes the tighter I hold on, the more unsettled I feel. I plan, I manage, I try to make everything work—but my heart still ends up in knots.

What if peace doesn’t come from trying harder… but from letting go?

In today’s episode, we’re exploring what it really means to let the peace of Christ rule in your heart—and how that one little word, let, might just change everything.

📖 What Colossians 3:15 Really Means About Peace and Control

 

One of the most powerful ways we begin to live in God’s peace is by paying close attention to what Scripture tells us about it. In this post, we’ll focus on a short but powerful verse in Colossians that offers a surprising key to peace—not as something we chase, but something we let lead us. Let’s take a closer look.

“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.” – Colossians 3:15

This verse is tucked into a passage all about clothing ourselves with the character of Christ. Compassion. Kindness. Humility. Forgiveness. And over all of it—love. These aren’t just personality traits—they are soul postures that reflect a life shaped by Jesus.

And right there in the middle is this invitation to let Christ’s peace rule our hearts.

That word “rule” means “to act as umpire”—to direct, decide, or call the shots. Peace isn’t a soft suggestion. It’s a governing influence when we choose to let it lead.

And here’s the part we often miss: LET

Letting requires surrender. It’s not about conjuring peace from our own effort—It’s about releasing control and making space for Christ’s peace to do what only He can.

 

You don’t create peace—you cooperate with it.

 

The Biblical Truth About Letting Peace Lead Your Heart

 

Letting the peace of Christ rule in our hearts begins with surrender—not as a one-time act, but as a posture we return to again.

Sometimes we don’t realize how tightly we’re holding on until we feel the tension rise—physically, emotionally, even spiritually. We feel it in the stress we carry, the pressure to perform, or the fear of what might go wrong if we don’t keep everything under control.

The absence of peace is often a signal. Unrest may be a nudge from the Holy Spirit that we’re relying on our own strength—or trying to hold too much.

But when we begin to let go—of outcomes, of expectations, of our own efforts—the pressure begins to lift. Peace enters not because we’ve solved the problem, but because we’ve made space for Christ to take the lead.

This kind of peace isn’t passive. It’s active. Governing. Protective. The verb “let” tells us we have a role—opening space, yielding leadership, and trusting Christ to lead from within.

We experience more peace when we rely on Christ rather than try to manage life on our own.

Letting peace rule is an act of surrender—letting go, letting be, letting God. This triple-layered letting is key—releasing control, accepting what is, and trusting God with it all.

Letting peace rule doesn’t mean denying reality—it means inviting Christ into it. We don’t dismiss concerns or minimize threats. We acknowledge them, but we choose to remember that God is sovereign, present, and faithful—no matter what we face.

You don’t have to fake fine to live by faith. Share on X

 

 

A Biblical Habit to Let God’s Peace Lead You Every Day

 

Today’s peace habit: Let the peace of Christ rule—especially when fear tries to take over.

It’s simple, but it shifts everything.

When you’re torn between options, when you’re overwhelmed or afraid—stop, breathe, and pray that prayer.

Don’t just ask for peace as a feeling. Ask for it as a leader, as your umpire. Then wait. Let His peace rule. Let it “make the call.”

Today’s Habit of Peace is more than a calming technique—it’s a deliberate act of faith:

This simple yet powerful posture opens the door for peace to guide us with clarity.

Letting peace lead is a spiritual strategy, not an emotional luxury.

5 Ways to Let Go of Control and Let the Peace of Christ Rule Your Heart

 

Here are five simple, powerful ways to begin letting the peace of Christ rule in your heart:

 

1. Recognize resistance – When peace feels far, ask what you’re still trying to control.
2. Pray a surrender prayer – “Jesus, let Your peace rule in my heart today.”
3. Let peace overrule your emotions – When fear speaks loudest, let Christ’s peace make the call.
4. Release the outcome – Stop striving and trust God to lead instead of forcing a result.
5. Practice daily letting – Let go. Let be. Let God. Every single day.

 

Which of these speaks most to your current season—and how might God be inviting you to respond?

 

When Fear Takes Over: How I Let Peace Rule in a Real-Life Moment

 

This played out in my own heart while I was on a very special anniversary trip. My husband showed me an article about a potential national security threat. Almost instantly, anxious “what ifs” started racing through my mind. I found myself thinking about it while we were sightseeing, relaxing by the pool, and in the middle of the night.

But here’s the thing: letting peace rule doesn’t mean pretending everything’s fine or ignoring what’s hard. It means acknowledging what’s real—and then choosing to remember that God is bigger than any challenge or conflict we face. I didn’t need to push those fears away or deny them. I needed to give them to Jesus.

I prayed, “Jesus, let Your peace rule in my heart—over my thoughts, my fears, and my desire to control.”

That prayer didn’t erase my concerns, but it re-centered me.

I’m still learning to counter fearful thoughts with prayer, praise, and purpose—trusting that Christ’s peace is the truest guide, even when the world feels uncertain.

I still struggle with a little anxiety from time to time—but not like I used to. Years ago, I walked through a season when anxiety was a debilitating force in my life. If that’s something you relate to, I want you to know you’re not alone in it. I share more of that story—and a few of the things God taught me through it—in the first chapter of my book, Holy in the Moment. I’ll link that chapter in the show notes as my gift to you. If anxiety is part of your journey, I pray it brings deep encouragement and hope, friend.

I’m learning not to fight the tension, but to carry it with faith. It’s not either/or—it’s both/and. I can feel concern and still choose to trust. I don’t have to resolve every feeling to follow where Jesus leads.

 

5 Affirmations to Let Peace Rule Your Heart

 

An affirmation is a way to speak truth to your heart—to agree with what God says is true. These short “I believe” statements help us stay rooted in Scripture when our emotions or circumstances try to pull us off course. They’re not about positive thinking—they’re about faith-filled reminding.

 

If you need a reminder to refocus your heart throughout the day, here are a few short statements rooted in Colossians 3:15. Use them to speak peace over your heart when stress, fear, or uncertainty rise up.

1. I choose peace over pressure today.
2. God’s peace is my guide and guard.
3. I surrender control and trust His lead.
4. Christ’s peace calms what I can’t control.
5. Peace rules my heart—fear doesn’t.

 

Which affirmation speaks most to your current season—and how might you carry it with you today?

 

A Prayer to Surrender Control and Let Christ’s Peace Rule

Peace can’t rule if control won’t budge. Share on X

Here’s a prayer to invite the peace of Christ into your challenge:

 

Jesus, I choose to let Your peace rule in my heart today. I surrender the urge to control outcomes, fix everything, or hold it all together. Be the umpire over my thoughts and emotions—calling what is safe, wise, and aligned with Your will. Where I feel anxious or unsettled, help me recognize it as a prompt to pause, pray, and follow where Your peace leads. Teach me to trust that Your presence is enough, even when I don’t have all the answers. I release my grip, and I receive Your peace—not as a feeling to chase, but a reality to live.

Your Best Habit: Let Jesus Guide You with His Peace

 

If you’ve been holding your breath, managing your people, or mapping every outcome—you’re probably tired. I’ve been there too. But peace doesn’t come from holding it all together. It comes when we let go and let Christ rule in our hearts.

So today, instead of overthinking… ask for peace.

Instead of pushing harder… pause and pray.

Instead of fearing the wrong move… let peace make the call.

 

Peace doesn’t mean you’re certain—it means you’re surrendered.

 

Called to Peace So You Can Let Go of Control

You are called to peace, friend. Let Jesus lead you with His steady grace—and take your next step wrapped in His peace.

If this post brought calm to your spirit or clarity to a decision you’re facing, would you share it with someone who needs it?

Be sure to subscribe to my newsletter so you won’t miss next week’s peace habit.

📖 This week, revisit Colossians 3 and ask: Am I letting peace rule—or am I still trying to stay in control?

Let Jesus lead. Let His peace guide your next step.

And wherever this finds you—calm or uncertain—may the peace of Christ gently rule in your heart.

Because peace is your path to a deeper life.

Enjoy the Entire Peace Series

• 40.Need a Little Peace? A Simple Habit to Notice When Peace is Missing
• 41.How to Pursue Peace God’s Way: A Simple Habit to Calm Your Soul
• 42.Peace is a Person: How to Embrace Calm in the Presence of Christ
• 43.How to Find Perfect Peace When You Feel Stressed (Isaiah 26:3) 
• 44.One Peaceful Habit to Respond with Grace When You’re Angry

Want to Experience This Kind of Peace More Consistently? 

Start with simple soul care. Peace doesn’t come from pushing harder—it grows when we make space to slow down, surrender, and let God care for our souls. If today’s post stirred something in your spirit, don’t let it fade.

💛 Download the Soul Care Made Simple guide and start applying these biblical habits with intention—one small rhythm at a time.