Karen Ehman - Let. It. Go.: How to Stop Running the Show and Start Walking in Faith

How to Stop Running the Show
and Start Walking in Faith

To Mary Steinke

My dear friend, accountability partner, personal prayer warrior, and okay not gonna lie occasional cohort in crime.

You patiently love. You quietly serve. You fervently pray. Your hidden work for the kingdom will be openly rewarded in heaven one day. Then Ill be the one leaping to my feet, clapping like crazy for my sweet, behind-the-scenes sister.

For your part in helping me become less of a control freak, I humbly thank you. I cant imagine doing life without you by my side and on your knees.

If there was ever a book tailor-made to hit at the heart of a womans struggle with control, this is it. I found myself nodding my head in agreement even though I wouldnt have classified myself as a control freak. But boy, did I have a lot to learn. Not only does Karen challenge us on this important issue, she equips us to find the peace we crave as we learn to practically let it go.

Lysa TerKeurst

New York Times bestselling author of Made to Crave and
Unglued and president of Proverbs 31 Ministries

Especially written for wives and mothers who try to control everyone and everything around them (believe me, I get this!), Let. It. Go. offers solid advice, wise counsel, and a healthy dose of humor. Full of why-to and how-to suggestions, plus helpful tools to measure what needs fixing, Karen Ehmans book goes right to the heart of the issue: Are we trying to be godly, or are we trying to be God?

Liz Curtis Higgs

author of The Girls Still Got It

Dear I Am A Flagrant Control Freak and I Pretend Otherwise Or Know Someone Who Does,

If you are ready or in the least bit curious about how to learn to truly get a grip on life, this is the book for you! Karen Ehman knows that in order to get that grip on life you so desire, you first have to let it go. Say what? Let it go? Trust me on this and continue reading. Let. It. Go. doesnt pull any punches (and I think we control-challenged women can and do appreciate such straightforwardness) as Karen melds her own often hilarious, sometimes painful, stories of learning how to quit calling all the shots with a lighthearted writing voice, sound biblical wisdom, and You can do this! encouragement.

Julie Barnhill

author of Shes Gonna Blow! Real Help for Moms Dealing
with Anger, columnist for MOPS MomSense, and national
and international keynote speaker

Let. It. Go. is a fresh, graceful way of pinning down what so often pins us down control. Ehman masterfully tells her own story of breaking the control cyle in the life of her family. She teaches us to walk the line between control and trust, and to embrace the imperfect in our lives.

Gari Meacham

author of Spirit Hunger

Let. It. Go. is a timely, inspiring, convicting, and freeing book that will take you back to the grace, acceptance, and peace God intended you to know. Karen has truly pinpointed and crafted a message that women are longing to hearthat God longs to lead us, bless us, hold us, and love us just as we are. Every woman I know needs to embrace the message Karen has so clearly communicated. Her vibrant stories, heart-felt insight, and practical spiritual applications will stay with you long after you have finished reading the book.

Sally Clarkson

author of Seasons of a Mothers Heart and The Mission
of Motherhood, cofounder of Whole Heart Ministries,
and blogger at I Take Joy and Mom Heart

Packed with wisdom, wit, and wonderful tools to tame the control freak in all of us, Let. It. Go. is more than a bookits a resource youll want to keep for years! Karen doesnt just tell us what to do, she shows us what shes learned through her own struggles and helps us see how our need for control could be controlling us. Each chapter includes biblical teaching, everyday life examples, self-assessments, and practical tips that will give you the confidence you long for in your roles and relationships so that you can let go and lean more on the One who is ultimately in control!

Renee Swope

bestselling author of A Confident Heart, radio cohost, and executive director of Proverbs 31 Ministries

Do you need biblical and practical wisdom for learning to walk by faith? This book is for you! Karen Ehman is funny, relatable, authentic, and inspiring. She speaks to the heart of every womans built-in need to control, revealing what our true need really iswe need to let it go.

Courtney Joseph

blogger at Women Living Well Ministries

G rowing up, I was a compliant child. When youre working in the entertainment industry, its expected. You have to be disciplined and trained for the job; you have to take direction on the spot; and you have to keep up your grades, work late nights, and push through a work day even when youre sick. It wasnt easy, but I enjoyed it. What always made it worth it was hearing the words, Good job! Well done, Candace at the end of the day.

I learned early that if I followed instructions and focused on the constructive aspect of criticism, things went well for me. I had to get accustomed to allowing others to tell me what I was going to wear, how to style my hair, and how to apply my makeup. I grew used to others giving me notes and direction on how to improve my dialogue and scenes. This meant relinquishing control. In essence, thats what being an actor is really aboutgiving up ones natural tendencies to become someone else.

Isnt that what God does in each one of us when we surrender control and let him take the lead? Going against our own selfish desires, we allow God to shape us into the person he wants us to become.

I thought my daughter was going to be the same as me. I thought that she would have an adult perspective at a young age and that she would understand that complying and following direction can outweigh the struggle of trying to control everything yourself. But Im afraid Natasha inherited the female control gene.

Natasha has a desire to lead and control everything in her life (as many of us do). Shes willing to sacrifice much in order to get her own way in spite of my rules. Most of the time, this results in consequences such as having her phone taken away, having time with friends limited, and missing out on some parties. While its difficult to deal with at this stage of her life, I recognize the strong leadership skills she inherently has, and I long to see the day she uses that strength for the glory of God.

Im helping Natasha shift her natural desire for control toward a supernatural reliance on the Lord. As a busy mom in charge of many aspects of my familys life, I am learning to do the same. After all, when I dont give up control, there are consequences for me too!

How do we fight the desire to micromanage and overcontrol? And in what ways can we encourage other women, including our daughters, to let go and trust God? How can we get-it-done, take-charge women learn to stop running the show and start walking in faith? These were just some of the questions Karen has answered in Let. It. Go. She gave me a fresh perspective on the issue of control, along with practical ideas for shepherding my daughters heart.

Yes, it is part of our nature to want full control over our lives, but Karens gentle whispers and witty nudges can help us learn to take our cues from the Great Director of life himself. Only then will we be able to fully surrender and with eager anticipation hear, Good job. Well done! from the Lord himself.