Podcast Summary: “I've Got Control Issues”

Change Church Podcast | Pastor Dharius Daniels
Date: February 8, 2026

Overview:

This episode, led by Pastor Dharius Daniels, forms part of the "Name Dropping" series. Pastor Daniels explores the topic of control issues in our spiritual walk, using Psalm 23:1 (“The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing”) as a focal point. Through lively teaching and memorable metaphors, he challenges listeners to confront their illusions of control, trust in God’s leadership, and experience the transformational shifts that occur when God is allowed to shepherd every area of their lives.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Series Theme and Context ([00:01–03:10])

• “I’ve got control issues”: Pastor Daniels confesses that many people, knowingly or not, wrestle with wanting to control outcomes in life.
• The series centers on the significance of God’s names, specifically focusing this episode on Jehovah Rohi (“The Lord is my shepherd”).

2. Control: The Illusion and Its Roots ([03:10–08:20])

• The Illusion of Control: Daniels explains,

  “Control makes me feel safe. Control makes me feel secure. Control makes me feel stable. … Control is an illusion.” ([04:07])

• We can control our efforts, but not outcomes. “We can till the ground...but we cannot make it rain.” ([04:57])
• Rooted in Trauma: The desire for control is often a symptom of past wounds and broken trust.

  “My desire for control is often a symptom of trauma, because I tried trusting others, and they demonstrated that they were not trustworthy.” ([04:30])

• The Weight of God’s Job: Attempting to carry “God weight”—responsibilities only God should bear—results in anxiety, stress, and exhaustion.

“When I try to do God’s job, then I am carrying God’s weight. And I have not been built to carry that kind of weight.” ([05:19])

3. Letting Go: The Path to Peace and Purpose ([08:20–11:50])

• Letting go brings peace:

  “What if I told you more peace is on the other side of letting go? What if I told you more productivity is on the other side of letting go?” ([09:01])

• The distinction between responsibility and control—God is sovereign; we are stewards.
• Revelation Precedes Revolution: Lasting behavioral change stems from fresh spiritual revelation.

4. Progressive Revelation of God ([11:50–15:30])

• God’s multifaceted character is revealed over time. Examples:
  • Jehovah Nissi (God our victory): David knew this side of God when facing Goliath.
  • Jehovah Rohi (God our shepherd): Psalm 23 is written when David is stable, but battling his need for control, not external enemies.

“In Psalms 23, He’s fighting with the enemy—me, myself, and I… fighting to conquer control.” ([14:27])

5. What Happens When the Lord Becomes “My Shepherd” ([17:44–48:00])

Pastor Daniels identifies five shifts that happen when God moves from “a” shepherd to “my” shepherd in our lives.

Shift 1: From Scarcity to Sufficiency ([18:10])

• “The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.” Personal provision, current provision, comprehensive provision.
• Quote:

  “If Yahweh is my shepherd, even if I don’t have it yet, if I’m following Him, he taking me there.” ([22:50])

• Encourages listeners: “Keep walking…You gonna walk right into what you’ve been lacking.” ([20:24])

Shift 2: From Wandering to Resting ([25:30])

• “He makes me lie down in green pastures.”
• God sometimes orchestrates unavoidable pauses for our restoration—not immobility, but security without striving.
• Memorable moment:

  “He’s stopping you to feed you…A pause because I want you to graze. I want you to eat. I want you to be renewed.” ([26:40])

Shift 3: From Chaos to Calm ([31:00])

• “He leads me beside still waters.”
• Stillness brings clarity—just as calm water reflects your image clearly, calm seasons help us see ourselves rightly.
• Chaos doesn’t always mean busyness; often it’s lack of clarity and discernment.
• Quote:

  “Still water allows you to see your reflection clearly. … Now you make decisions with discernment, not out of desperation.” ([32:05])

Shift 4: From Worn Down to Refreshed ([35:00])

• “He restores my soul.”
• Trusting the path and the pace of the shepherd is key.
• God restores the energy (virtue) that life, relationships, and adversity drain away.
• Memorable illustration:

  “The asset I’m referring to is called energy. The devil wants to rob you of energy. … Parenting, loving people, managing spiritual warfare—that takes energy.” ([37:40])

• References Jesus’ own life and virtue being released (Mark 5).

Shift 5: From Fear to Faith ([43:25])

• “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for thou art with me.”
• Shadow, not substance—don’t fear what’s only a shadow.
• God’s rod and staff bring comfort: “I’m comforted because you have it. And I’m comforted because I know you’re not afraid to use it.” ([44:23])
• Table before enemies: God sometimes blesses you in front of those who oppose you.
• Anointing: Relays how oil on a sheep’s head keeps snakes from holding on—God’s “oil” keeps us from harm’s grip.

“Every time the devil tried to get a grip on you, God put the oil on you…and you got away.” ([46:40])

6. Surrender: The Remedy for Control ([50:00–End])

• God is safe to trust:

  “It’s unwise to give the wheel to someone who’s not safe. But maybe God, through this message, is whispering to you, ‘I’m safe. Let me take the wheel.’” ([51:10])

• Progressive sanctification: Growing in surrender is a process; we let go layer by layer.
• “Sometimes deliverance breaks the yoke, but time removes the residue.” ([53:30])
• Closing prayer: Pastor Daniels urges listeners to release their need to control, trust the Shepherd, and rest in God’s sufficiency and pace.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the illusion of control:

  “God is the only one that actually has control. And when I try to assume control, then I am trespassing on God’s property.” ([05:11])

• On responsibility vs. control:

  “There’s a difference between accepting responsibility and trying to take control.” ([05:03])

• Revelation leads behavior:

  “We need a revelation of God…God arranges and orchestrates situations to give us different revelations of who He is.” ([11:55])

• Confession and humor:

  “You keep giving me the wheel, then kicking me out the car, putting me on the passenger side.” ([18:20])

• On sufficiency:

  “If I lack what I need, but I’ve made him my shepherd, even if I currently lack it, he’s leading me to it.” ([22:40])

• On anointing:

  “The oil wouldn’t let the snake keep its grip…every time the devil trying to get a grip on you, God put the oil on you. And I got away.” ([46:40])

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Timestamp | Segment Highlight | |-----------|---------------------------------------------------------| | 00:01 | Series context — "I've got control issues" introduced | | 03:10 | The illusion of control and its emotional roots | | 08:20 | Wisdom in letting go; difference between trust & control| | 11:50 | Progressive revelation of God’s character | | 18:10 | First shift: Scarcity to sufficiency | | 25:30 | Second shift: Wandering to resting | | 31:00 | Third shift: Chaos to calm | | 35:00 | Fourth shift: Worn down to refreshed | | 43:25 | Fifth shift: Fear to faith—God’s presence and protection| | 50:00 | The call to surrender control; progressive sanctification| | 53:30 | Deliverance and the process of letting go | | 55:14 | Communion prayer of surrender and blessing |

Final Thoughts

Pastor Dharius Daniels delivers a dynamic, honest, and practical message about control, trust, and the peace found in letting God lead. Using Psalm 23’s imagery and personal stories, he reframes surrender not as passive resignation, but as a courageous, faith-driven decision to move from scarcity, chaos, exhaustion, and fear—toward sufficiency, rest, refreshment, calm, and unshakeable security in God’s shepherding care.

For anyone battling the need to control every outcome, this episode is a heartfelt invitation to “let Jesus drive”—and experience the freedom, rest, and growth that comes with truly making the Lord your Shepherd.