What intrigued me about this book at first was the author because I loved her previous writings. And this book did not disappoint. I knew I have some control issues here and there, but she pinpointed areas I wasn’t even aware of. It was truly eye opening and inspired me to let go of those areas that I can’t control anyway.

Sharon opens our eyes to seeing our desire for control in many areas of life, some that I had never considered before but now can’t see any other way. Her writing is relatable but powerful. Her storytelling and understanding of Scripture weave together to make it an enjoyable but transformational reading experience. Great book!

The Cost of Control contains many valuable lessons I have learned the hard way over my past 25 years of ministry. It also contains some truths that will hopefully help me avoid learning the hard way in the future. One of the first things shared in this book is that control is an illusion. We think that “I’m safer and more secure if I’m in charge.” This book shows that not only is this untrue, but this thinking actually can cost us. It can cost us anxiety, exhaustion, broken relationships, and burnout to name a few. Dr. Miller has a gift for taking things we think are good and helpful (because the world tells us so) and showing how the Bible sees them differently. I highly recommend this book to anyone in ministry, anyone struggling with anxiety or burnout, and anyone of any age who hopes to avoid experiencing the high cost of control. I am excited to read this book again and more in depth after I have the study guide.

The book should be read by everyone as personal reflection and to do self-examination on the danger of trying to control others, the book is a great resource to do just that.

The Cost of Control by Sharon Hodde Miller provides a lot of great research regarding control, or lack of control from a psychological perspective and a theological one. The author makes it clear we humans want to believe we are in control, but ultimately, it is a facade and ultimately “self-deception.

The book is filled with personal life stories of herself and her husband. These stories are weaved throughout the book to shine a light on the various methods of control used by people in order to feel in control and the personal and societal cost of control provided great examples to use for self reflection. And, which clearly demonstrated that humans do not really have control over our lives.

Using Genesis, similar to Jack Frost regarding the Father Heart of God and the Orphan Spirit by Jack Frost (as well as others) and information by Chester and Betsy Kylstra’s in Restoring the Foundations as the “Shame, Fear and Control cycle,” the author’s unique focus is on control. Reading to the end however gives an alternative to a life of control.

A must read! Sharon brings awareness to the ways we use knowledge, money, and theology as an illusion of control and what it ultimately costs us. We need to name the deals we make with the devil to tame them. We are called to live counterintuitively like Christ.