This book was truly eye-opening and filled with Scripture that carries you through some of life’s hardest seasons. I could relate to so much of what was shared. As a caregiver, I found myself struggling with anger and bitterness because I wanted so badly for my siblings to help, and deep down I believed I could somehow control the situation and the people around me.

One of the hardest yet most amazing lessons God has taught me is that I cannot control others , only surrender them to Him. Through that process, God delivered me from that mindset and gifted me with a testimony that only true deliverance could bring.

So many quotes spoke to me throughout the book especially “Only God is capable of steering us toward what is best. If a person doesn’t want to change, there’s nothing I can do to change them.” That truth brought both conviction and freedom to my life.

This book is full of wisdom, healing, honesty, and biblical truth. I highly recommend it to anyone walking through hurt, control issues, and fears struggles, or learning to fully trust God with the people they love.

I have read just about every book Lysa has written. I learned about Lysa TerKeurst when she did a Convecation at Liberty University years ago, and soon after realized she had written a few books. Making Peace with What I Can't Control is a reminder to me that I am an overthinker, that I do and say things I shouldn't when I'm stressed, and that I've learned how to get past that. It's about finding relief if you are an overthinker and working through it in the long run. This is something that I have needed to work on, and while I'm not perfect at it, I've learned ways to help the situation. I simply can't be afraid of the what-ifs; I just need to focus on the present and not overthink it. This is a book I plan to purchase for my collection of books by Lysa. If you're an overthinker, think you can't control the world or your life, think again, because you can.

This book was really helpful and insightful especially after reading one of her previous books. I’m glad to have gotten the opportunity to read it.

Making Peace with What I Can’t Control by Lysa TerKeurst was a thoughtful and helpful read overall. The book does a very good job of helping readers identify patterns of control in their lives, recognize anxiety and overthinking, and learn to surrender these things to the LORD. I especially appreciated the practical side of the book — journalling through fears, reflective questions, reminders about healthy boundaries, and the included prayers throughout the chapters.

There are also many encouraging lines that stayed with me, such as: “God doesn’t need my help; He wants my obedience,” and “I either trust in my own efforts or I trust in God. This is the rhythm of recovery from control: repentance and trust.” The book also contains a large section of Bible verses readers can turn to, so it is clearly written from a Christian perspective and intended to encourage believers toward trust in God.

Personally, one of my struggles with the book was that it often reads more like a self-help or therapeutic-style book mixed with Christian faith and encouragement rather than a deeply doctrinal or theological work. There is a strong emphasis on emotions, personal healing, self-reflection, and practical coping tools. Readers who prefer deeper doctrinal exposition or a more Scripture-centered teaching style may not connect as much with this approach.

There are also many personal stories throughout the book. Some examples are very relatable and helpful, though at times the storytelling can feel longer than necessary or could have been handled more directly. Still, the stories do help illustrate the themes of surrender, fear, trust, and control in practical ways.

Leaving those concerns aside, I still found the book beneficial and well written. Even non-believers could likely find useful insights about control, anxiety, and relationships. For Christians, the strongest parts of the book are the reminders to trust God rather than ourselves and to surrender our lives into His hands. At the same time, I do think Scripture calls us to surrender not only the things we cannot control, but ultimately everything to God.

Overall, I’d personally rate this around 3.5 stars because I’m generally not a big fan of Christian self-help style books. However, since NetGalley doesn’t allow half stars and I do think this is better than a 3-star read, I’m giving it 4 stars. In the end, it is a good reminder that the surrender God invites us into comes with the assurance that what we willingly place into His hands, He is faithful to care for according to His will.

Lysa TerKeurst books have a way of finding their way into my life at just the right time, and this was once again that happening. She has this incredible gift to put words to feelings and translate faith into action. She does it by being honest and vulnerable about her life in a way that is also relatable to a reader, and you can easily "take what you need" from her reflections. I found myself highlighting so many passages of this, and I anticipate it's one that I'll revisit many times. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the look at this September 2026 release.

A must read for those struggling with anxiety that leads to control issues. What God’s plan is for me, what others choose, and what happens around me is not my control. Submitting to the will of God and peace in Christ is necessary for a fulfilled life. Lysa touches on these principles and more in this straightforward guide.

I’ve always appreciated Lysa TerKeurst’s writing style, and this book reminded me why. She has a way of taking difficult topics and making them approachable through personal stories, biblical truth, and practical encouragement. Her writing is easy to read, relatable, and filled with compassion.

The book started very strong for me. The premise of learning to make peace with things we can’t control is something many people struggle with, and I was excited to see where Lysa would take the topic. However, as the book progressed, I felt the focus became much more centered on dealing with difficult or destructive people, those making harmful choices, refusing help, or creating chaos in relationships.

While those sections will undoubtedly resonate with readers navigating situations involving addiction, unhealthy relationships, or loved ones who won’t listen to wise counsel, I found myself wishing the message had remained more broadly focused. When I picked up this book, I was hoping for more discussion about surrendering control over circumstances in general—things like work situations, family concerns, unexpected life changes, and the many outcomes we simply cannot manage no matter how hard we try.

That said, there is still a great deal of wisdom here. Lysa does an excellent job pointing readers back to God, challenging fear-driven control, and reminding us that we were never meant to carry burdens that belong to Him. Her vulnerability and honesty make the book engaging, and her biblical foundation remains strong throughout.

If you’re struggling with a difficult person in your life or finding yourself constantly trying to fix someone else’s choices, this book will likely be especially meaningful. I simply wish the scope had been a little broader to address the many other forms of control we wrestle with in everyday life.

Thank you to Nelson Books and NetGalley for this advanced copy.

5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

You know those books that come into your life at exactly the right moment—books that feel like a gift from God, placed in your hands when you need them most? Making Peace with What You Can’t Control was that book for me.

The past several months have been a bit tumultuous, and Lysa’s words spoke directly to my heart. This book reminded me that true peace doesn’t come from trying to control every outcome or fix every problem. Peace comes from trusting God, even when circumstances feel uncertain. Like Lysa shares throughout the book, what we often believe is the “right move” can sometimes be our attempt to take control rather than surrendering the situation to God.

One of my favorite aspects of this book was how much Scripture was woven throughout each chapter. Lysa doesn’t simply share her experiences—she grounds them firmly in God’s Word, providing encouragement and truth for readers who may be facing their own struggles. I also loved her reminder that God’s gifts and evidence of His presence are all around us if we are willing to open our eyes and see them, much like the beautiful illustration of the earrings shared in the book.

What made this book especially impactful was Lysa’s honesty. She has walked through incredibly difficult seasons and openly admits that she still wrestles with the desire to control, fix, and figure everything out. That vulnerability made her message all the more powerful. God’s ways are not our ways, and His plans are always better than anything we could orchestrate on our own.

Thank you, Lysa, for writing this book. Reading it felt like sitting down with a trusted friend over a cup of coffee, sharing life’s hard truths, and leaving with a renewed sense of hope. It was exactly the comforting hug my heart needed.

Making Peace with What I Can’t Control by Lisa TerKeurst is written for everyone who struggles with the emotional pull of controlling people and circumstances in life.

TerKeurst guides readers to identify the areas.in which they are assuming responsibility when inappropriate. She helps us spot the fears that lead us to grasp for control. Readers will learn how to surrender to God’s control and assume stewardship of the part He has called us to carry.

At the end of each chapter in the E-book there is a QR code. The author shares a life lesson or creative idea that brings more clarity to what she has written.

Grab a tissue BOX, a pen, highlighter, tabs, your Bible, and notebook! Lysa TerKeurst's books are always a must read and this one is even better than the last with wisdom that helps readers find real peace in the midst of this very broken world. I've never wanted to read a book word for word alongside my loved ones more!

In Making Peace With What I Can't Control, Lysa puts into words what I have struggled with for years now: anxiety arises when you want to control life- even for good and beautiful reasons. God never designed us to be our own saviors, after all, He provided the only hope in Jesus. But are we just supposed to let life fall apart around us? Control by itself is not sin, but one must ask themselves, "what do I aim to control?" Myself, my thoughts, and responses or other people? Self-control glorifies God; the other kind often leads to heartbreak, anger, and burnout.

Throughout the book, Lysa teaches us to recognize our own behaviors and how to let other people make their own choices. She introduces the 6 P's of control- some I had never even thought of as control!- and how to develop the emotional maturity necessary to "stop co-signing chaos" in others' lives. Lysa never shys away from biblical Truth, gently helping us understand that real suffering is when we take our eyes off God, not the pressure we feel believing we control and are responsible for all of life. It's only by giving everything to the Lord that we can experience deep peace. Decay occurs. Disaster will strike. Our hope is not in getting our way every single time, but in the Almighty Lord who loves us enough to die for us. Our hope is heaven with Him, not earth without him.

Each chapter ends with relevant verses, reflection questions, and a prayer to center your mind and heart on Truth. What's new is the QR code leading readers to additional videos which further expand upon the topic! Just scan and watch! I know I will come back to this book time and time again as I work through the stages of letting control go and accepting that the God of the universe really does care for me and who I care about too. The journaling questions from chapter 6 really helped my mind process through and heart accept the reality of situations I didn't think I could ever mentally or emotionally let go of- or didn't even know I was trying to control! I am so thankful for this book!

A few of my favorite quotes:
"I'm surviving my life, but sometimes I wonder if I'm even enjoying my life."
"... if I couldn't find safety with God then I wouldn't be able to find safety by counting on anyone else. The only one I could truly count on was me."
"So what is within my ability to control? My choices. My actions. My reactions. My attitude. Those are my responsibility."
"Control is fear disguised as strength."
"I'm afraid to let others have the power to choose. And I'm afraid God might use his power in a way I would never choose."
"A fool is one who disconnects their actions from the consequences that will follow."

Thank you to Lysa TerKeurst, Nelson Books, and NetGalley for this ARC!

Lysa Terkeurst always writes with vulnerability and honesty from the hardest parts of her own life. This book is full of wise advice but most importantly, Biblical counsel in how to steward our emotions, choices, and decisions when life just doesn’t seem to make sense or to be going the way we hoped and planned.

🙂What I loved about this book is the chapter summaries and prompts that add depth and opportunity for personal reflection.

Favorite quote: ‘Control is fear disguised as strength.’

3.5 ⭐️

“Control is fear disguised as strength.” This suggestion was very thought provoking for me and makes me reflect on my need to control.

I was excited about the topic of this book as I certainly have a propensity for being controlling, and though it was full of reflections and scripture that was helpful, there was no personal “aha” moment for me that is really going to make me adjust going forward. I do hope to be more intentional and aware after studying the topic, but that’s the biggest takeaway.

I did absolutely LOVE the QR codes at the end of each chapter linking to the companion videos. All Bible studies should do this!

Having been a fan of hers for a few years, and having an opportunity to hear her speak at my church, I was eager to dig into Lysa TerKeurst's newest book. How often do we try to control everything (and sometimes everyone) around us? One of my friends told me about an activity where you draw a circle. Inside the circle you write everything you can control. Outside the circle you write everything you cannot control. It helped me pay attention to the things that matter and to pray for guidance to know the difference. As always, Lysa shares wisdom and points us to God. He helps us put everything into perspective.

Once again, Lisa Terkeurst has written a book that speaks to the heart of women. I appreciate her authenticity in this book, and the candid way she approaches her own struggles with control.

Lysa TerKeurst is coming out with a new book titled, Making Peace with What I Can’t Control – Find Relief from the Exhaustion of Overthinking, Trying to Fix Others, and Wanting to Figure It All Out. I so related to this book, since I am a recovering control freak, well a work in progress in Christ.

Each chapter she shares from situations she has faced, along with biblical application and several Scriptures to pray and ponder over to provide encouragement and help. She offers a QR code after each chapter that you can click on to take you for additional information and lessons on that chapter.

Here are some of my highlights from the book:

We want things to be good. We want things to be right. We want security, sanity, and a steadiness to life. But if this stability depends on us getting it right all the time and pretending everything is find, then that’s not true peace. That’s control.
God reminds us that we are like branches that cannot do anything if we separate from Him, the Life-giving vine: “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me youc an do nothing.”John 15:5
The more we fight against letting God have control, the more we fight against the very thing we desperately want: what is truly best.
A heart that is seeking Him with questions is so much better than a heart that stays deceived.
Anything we place in the hands of our God will never, ever truly be gone. “Has not my hand made all these things, and so they came into being? declares the Lord. These are the ones I look on with favor; those who are humble and contrite in spirit, and who tremble at my word.” Isaiah 66:2
Prevention is often what I try to accomplish with my control. Maybe for you it’s a different word. Maybe you are using variations of control because you want to protect, pretend, prepare, perfect, perform, or predict.
If He’s my Lord, I acknowledge that I’m safe to turn over to Him that which I cannot control.
Stepping in to save others could block them from seeking and feeling the need to turn to Jesus for themselves.
People who don’t think they are a part of the problem usually aren’t eager to put in the effort to help solve the problem.
If the other person is an adult, then they are not your responsibility to manage. You are, however, responsible to manage yourself.
The secret is remembering that staying calm is not an endorsement of their behavior. It’s an endorsement of your spiritual maturity and emotional health.
Being overly involved is a type of control, but so is avoiding someone and giving them the silent treatment, making passive-aggressive comments, or using overly harsh boundaries as punishment.
Obedience is my job. Outcome is His.
I can bring solutions without having to be the whole solution.
Don’t assume other people are motivated by feeling good, happy, and at peace…sometimes people have chaos inside them and they don’t feel good unless they stir up chaos around them.
Self-control means we can let the peace of Christ rule in our hearts. Self-control means we can think through the consequences of our actions ahead of time and make better choices. Self-control means we get to put on display the life-giving fruit of the Spirit.
It is not my responsibility to try to manage another person’s thoughts and feelings.

So many more highlights I could share, so I highly recommend this book. It will help deal with controlling behavior, boundaries, and learning to truth in Jesus more and more as we deal with difficult circumstances. We were never meant to be in control!

Goodness, another hit from Lysa! I enjoy her writing and storytelling abilities, and this book came at the right time for me. I found myself taking notes as I read. The lessons and advice, combined with personal touches, make it helpful and a great guide. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

Lysa does it once again! I've read all of her books, and this one does not disappoint. Her honesty and sharing her own challenges with control are so relatable. While my story may not be the same as hers, the principles and struggles with circumstances and people sure are. As a recovering people-pleaser and approval-seeker, I have had to learn the hard way that the only thing I can control is myself. Lysa provides plenty of scripture references to help point us to the Lord and allow Him to be in control as we surrender to Him. I especially loved the "chapters at a glance" with helpful summaries, prayer, and action steps that I can go back and refer to as needed. An added bonus is the QR code after each chapter, which links to a video with extra content. My advanced reader copy has many highlights, and this is a book I will revisit often.

Making Peace With What I Can't Control is another great book by Lysa Terkeurst. The book does an incredible job at highlighting the areas in our lives that we try to control, and the "whys" behind our behaviors. Lysa weaves in many personal stories and insights she has gained over the years in her own journeys and also gives lots of practical applications at the end of each chapter for further growth: journaling through fears, reflective questions, reminders on how to have healthy boundaries, prayers, scripture, and more. She even has a QR code at the end of each chapter that takes you too additional resources. Lysa writes with a truth that is firmly grounded in God's word. She gives the reader encouragement and hope and reminds us that God's gifts and His presence are always with us, no matter what adversity we are facing. He is Faithful!
Some of my favorite quotes include:

"Control is fear disguised as strength."
"I'm surviving my life, but sometimes I wonder if I'm even enjoying my life."
"A fool is one who disconnects their actions from the consequences that will follow.

I highly recommend this book to anyone as it is filled with lots of tangible and practical applications to navigate difficult relationships and heartbreaks. Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson books for the advanced review copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

The title of this book immediately spoke to me, because of the year I am having. It's literally what my Therapist and I have been working on. Not being in control of things and being ok with that and not freaking out. This book came at the perfect time for me. I appreciated Lysa's personal stories and how she wove in scripture to back up the truth. Highly recommend for everyone!

This book was very real and resonant. Like all of Lysa’s work it feels so personal but also so Biblically backed. Highly, highly recommend.

Lysa TerKeurst has always had a way of naming the quiet battles so many of us fight, and Making Peace with What I Can’t Control may be one of her most needed books yet. It speaks directly to the exhaustion of overthinking, the ache of trying to fix people who don’t want to be fixed, and the fear that rises when life feels unpredictable and God seems painfully silent. This is a book for anyone who has ever whispered, “If I don’t hold everything together, everything will fall apart.”

What makes this book so pastorally powerful is how Lysa gently exposes the truth behind our controlling tendencies. It’s not that we want to manipulate people or micromanage outcomes. It’s that we’re desperate — desperate to prevent another heartbreak, another crisis, another season of chaos that feels unnecessary and unfair. We carry a crushing weight we were never meant to bear, believing that everything depends on us. Lysa meets readers right there, in that tension, and offers a life-giving alternative: surrender rooted in trust.

Throughout the book, she helps readers identify the core fears that fuel our attempts to control — fears about what God is allowing, fears about what others might choose, fears about repeating past pain. She names the spiritual confusion that comes when life feels relentless and God feels inattentive. And she does so with honesty, Scripture, and a deep understanding of how fear-driven control slowly drains our peace.

Readers repeatedly describe the book as eye-opening, especially in how it reveals the subtle ways we try to rescue, intervene, or manage situations that aren’t ours to carry. One reader shared how caregiving pushed her into anger and bitterness because she believed she could somehow control the people around her. Lysa’s words helped her see the truth: “Only God is capable of steering us toward what is best. If a person doesn’t want to change, there’s nothing I can do to change them.” That realization brought both conviction and freedom — a theme that echoes throughout the book.

Another reader noted how the book reminded her of her own tendency to overthink, to spiral into “what-ifs,” and to try to manage every possible outcome. Lysa’s gentle guidance helped her recognize when she was crossing the line from healthy responsibility into fear-driven control. The book became a tool for learning to stay present rather than living in imagined catastrophes.

The practical side of the book is one of its greatest strengths. Lysa includes:

reflective questions,

journaling prompts,

guided prayers,

biblical passages for reassurance,

and clear markers for recognizing when we’re slipping into unhealthy patterns.

These tools help readers move from anxiety to surrender, from frantic effort to trust. As one reader put it, “God doesn’t need my help; He wants my obedience.” That simple truth becomes a steady rhythm throughout the book: repentance and trust, surrender and rest.

Some readers noted that the book leans more toward Christian self-help than deep doctrinal exposition. It is emotionally rich, story-driven, and practical rather than theological in a formal sense. But for many, that is precisely what makes it accessible. It speaks to real-life fears, real-life relationships, and real-life exhaustion. It’s a book that meets people where they are — overwhelmed, tired, and longing for peace.

At its core, Making Peace with What I Can’t Control is a reminder that surrender is not passive. It is an act of trust. It is choosing to place people, outcomes, and fears into God’s hands — not because we’re giving up, but because He is faithful. As one reader beautifully summarized, “The surrender God invites us into comes with the assurance that what we willingly place into His hands, He is faithful to care for according to His will.”

This book is full of wisdom, healing, honesty, and biblical truth. It is for anyone walking through hurt, fear, control issues, relational strain, or seasons where God feels quiet. It is for caregivers, overthinkers, fixers, and those who carry more than they were ever meant to hold. It is for anyone learning — slowly, painfully, beautifully — to trust God with the people they love and the outcomes they cannot control.

Lysa has written a compassionate companion for the journey toward peace. And for many readers, it has been exactly the relief they didn’t know they needed.

Making Peace with What I Can't Control* by Lysa TerKeurst was such a solid, encouraging read. If you're someone who tends to overthink, carry the weight of everyone else's problems, or feel like everything depends on you, there's a good chance you'll find something here that resonates.

One thing I really appreciated was how practical this book is. Each chapter includes journaling prompts, reflective questions, prayers, and reminders about healthy boundaries, making it easy to pause and actually process what you're reading instead of just moving on to the next chapter.

I also appreciated the way Lysa gently helps readers recognize patterns of anxiety and control while continually pointing them back to trusting God instead of trying to manage every outcome. It isn't about having all the answers—it's about learning to surrender what was never ours to carry in the first place.

If you're in a season of feeling overwhelmed, anxious, or stretched thin, this is a thoughtful, grace-filled read that's worth picking up.

I went into this one expecting a broader discussion on fear, anxiety, and our desire for control, so I was surprised when its focus narrowed to our attempts to control other people, particularly in difficult relationships. While that wasn't quite the book I was looking for, I can definitely see how this message would be exactly what some readers need.

The writing is warm, relatable, and easy to read. The author shares plenty of personal stories that help illustrate the main points, and the book felt very practical. I especially loved the chapter-at-a-glance section at the end of each chapter, which included a summary, key Bible verses, journal questions, a prayer, and even a QR code linking to a companion video. These extras made it easy to pause and reflect, and set this up well for group study.

Overall, this felt more like Christian self-help than a deeply theological study, but its central message was a timely reminder: we are called to trust God with our circumstances and remember that each person is responsible for their own choices.

I'd recommend this to Christians who are walking through difficult relationships or wrestling with the urge to control outcomes. Even though it wasn't exactly what I expected, it was an encouraging read with some helpful reminders.

Many thanks to Nelson Books and NetGalley for providing me with an advance review copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Absolutely loved this book!

Prior to reading this book, I would not have considered myself to have controlling tendencies; this book opened my eyes to all the subtle and destructive ways that I attempt to control things that are outside of my control.

I’m so grateful for the gentle (yet clear) and highly relatable way that Lysa writes about this topic. I’ll be coming back to my notes and highlighted sections often!

Age rating: teen and adult.

Absolutely loved this book! Lysa has a way to gently point out things and see them for what they are. I will return to this book in the future for sure!

This is the best Lysa Terkeurst book I’ve read in a while. I actually preordered a copy before I finished my ARC because I need to reread and share it! This book is full of biblical wisdom that met me in my current situation and brought me to tears.

Exactly what I needed to read at this time. Insightful.
Thanks to author, publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book. While I got the book for free it had no bearing on the rating I gave it.

✨there is more highlighted in this book than not ✨

📚 Lysa is the Queen of saying what needs to be said, especially when it’s hard, but she’s going to hold your hand while she does it. Lysa has this unmatched way of sharing her hard moments and allowing her readers the space to reflect and get honest with themselves. She’s never judging and always has an understanding stance that is mixed with the mentor role, she’s going to pull you toward who you’re meant to be one chapter and realization at a time. I found myself highlighting sentences left and right, I shared a story from Lysa while I was with family on vacation, and I sent a text with her prayer visualization. Lysa weaves in such meaningful and applicable tips in this book, there’s something in here for everyone.

🌟 If you find that you think it all depends on you and you’ve got to take matters into your own hands, then I welcome you to pre-order this one. You won’t regret it.

📖 Making Peace With What I Can’t Control - Lysa TerKeurst

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#BookReview #BookRecommendation #TBR #MakingPeacewithWhatICantControl #LysaTerKeurst

|| Christian, Religion & Spirituality Book, Self-Help ||

With honesty and biblical wisdom, Lysa TerKeurst offers reassurance for anyone struggling with uncertainty. Her encouraging words remind readers that peace is found by trusting God even when life feels unpredictable. A lot of her recent work feels repetitive, but the message is important.

To be honest, when I first picked up this book I thought it would be primarily something my wife would enjoy, which was true. She enjoyed the book, but so did I.

Look, we’ve all been there. Lying awake in the middle of the night with thoughts running rampant as we rehearse future scenarios either in hopes of fixing them or to ensure those whom we care most about are as safe and protected as possible.

We lie to ourselves by saying we are not controlling the people in our lives. We tell ourselves we are simply being responsible, or that we care, or that we are just trying to protect people. The problem is, we rarely help people as much as we had hoped and become more exhausted than we had imagined.

Lysa TerKeurst’s latest book, Making Peace with What I Can’t Control, addresses this exhausting struggle. Through her characteristic vulnerability and biblical insights, TerKeurst invites us to re-examine the fear behind trying to micromanage every aspect of life, to identify its deeper source, and to truly let go.

This book is filled with compassion and provides biblical wisdom on the reason why so many people cling to control when they feel fearful, anxious, or uncertain. The author digs into her own experiences with life’s heartbreaks, betrayals, and illnesses, revealing how someone with even the best intentions can use control as a coping strategy. Each chapter helps us to identify the underlying causes of our need for control and to establish clear separation between what is our responsibility and what belongs to others and to God. TerKeurst gives a framework to live life alongside the people you can’t control without losing your own emotional and spiritual wholeness. Along the way, she also shares some very practical, ready-to-go scripts for changing the panic-induced internal conversations into honest confessions.

For me, the distinction she made between responsibility and control was incredibly practical. It’s easy to confuse just trying to help out with actually playing an unnecessary role of control. TerKeurst is very good at identifying the cost to our mental and emotional health which results from micromanaging the lives of others.

I appreciated the summaries found at the end of each chapter that walk us through not just the concepts but the specific takeaways. They also included Scriptural references and a helpful prayer as we apply the chapter’s concepts to our real lives. The use of “This Chapter at a Glance” makes it very simple to integrate what you’ve learned.

If you have read other TerKeurst titles, then, some aspects of this book might feel familiar and similar to what has been addressed in recent writings. Still, Making Peace with What I Can’t Control remains a timely reminder that true peace lies not in shaping the uncontrollable but in willingly surrendering those things into the divine care of the Almighty.

For anyone feeling the weariness that comes with juggling every bit of the world around you, holding it all together, rushing to “save” others, and obsessively anticipating what the future may hold, this would be a great title to add to your reading list.

Rating: 4/5 Stars

I was given a review copy from NetGalley and Nelson Books in exchange for my honest review.

This book is full of such great truths and encouragements and convictions. If you’re overwhelmed by decisions, plans, or just worry about the future….you need to read this book.

Lysa does a great job in her writing by sharing real life testimonies and encouragement. She truly feels like a friend walking through this with you.

In Making Peace with What I Can’t Control, Lysa TerKeurst explores one of the hardest struggles many people face: the desire to fix, manage, and prevent everything from falling apart. With honesty and vulnerability, she addresses the fear underneath our need for control and reminds readers that carrying the weight of every outcome was never something we were meant to do. ✨

I appreciated how practical and relatable this book feels. TerKeurst doesn’t dismiss the very real pain, disappointments, and unanswered prayers that make us want to take matters into our own hands. Instead, she encourages readers to examine where fear is driving their decisions and how to replace anxiety-driven control with faith, wisdom, and trust in God’s timing.

This book is especially meaningful for anyone who has found themselves exhausted from trying to manage other people’s choices, circumstances they cannot change, or situations that feel completely out of their hands. It offers encouragement, reflection, and reminders that surrender is not giving up—it is making room for peace. 💛

This book honestly gives reasons why it is hard to not want to be in control of people and events.

Lysa discusses the frustrations of wanting to help people overcome the issues that cause them to continually make bad choices which affect themselves and those around them

She discusses how hard it is to rely on and trust God, knowing that He loves people and He allows them to make choices because He loves them.

This book was just what I needed at this moment in my life. I have lots of things going on right now out of my control.... and everything that Lysa wrote I felt. I highlighted so many pages in this book and I know I'll be going back to them!!
This book is filled with scripture, helpful comments, stories-- for you to understand that you don't need to be in control of things.... but you do have the control on how you act. You can't control others... but you can control you, your thoughts, you mind.
I highly recommend this book! I can't stress it enough how helpful it was for me... and again, know that I'll be coming back to the passages and scriptures/prayers even that she included in the book.

Another amazing book by this incredibly talented author!!!
5 stars from me.

Thank you to NETGALLEY and the publisher for allowing me to read/review.

Lysa’s books are always a wonderful welcome to all the noise we hear, both internally and externally. She adds a great value-add video option to the end of each chapter which helps pull the key concepts together. It adds a special touch of personalization to an already personalized book. The content is rich and will serve as an amazing resource tool. Thanks so much to NetGalley for the ARC and Lysa for another beautiful book.

Thank you Lysa! I have been a long time Lysa TerKeurst fan. Making Peace with What I Can’t Control has release me from so much in my life. As a parent to 2 adult children and 2 younger children I want to control the outcomes of all of their lives. That’s just not possible with 2 adults. 😂 The freedom this book has given me… I just can’t put into words. Thank you for all your words of wisdom

Once again Lysa's book arrived JUST when I needed it. Full of usable and really practical counsel on dealing with fear, anxiety, and our desire to control.

Two thoughts that really stuck out:

"The Enemy wants us to believe that we deserve more goodness than God is willing to give us. But the truth is that God’s goodness is what protects us in the midst of what we don’t understand."

"But we can’t merely release our grip and stay in fear. Releasing alone is not enough. We also must transfer the weight of the outcome to God through the act of surrender."

This is a book for anyone who reaches for control as a coping mechanism. If you read that and thought, “Oh, I don’t have that issue,” let me politely challenge that conclusion. Instead, allow this book to take you on a journey deeply rooted in Biblical Scripture, learning what it means to rely on God and release to Him what was never ours to control.

All of us face people and circumstances that cause us to wish for better outcomes. We get caught in “if only” thought loops, convinced others just can’t see things as clearly as we can, or perhaps believing we can’t fully rely on God to do far more than our limited selves could achieve.

If you’re a person of prayer, you’ve most certainly experienced prayers that seem unanswered or aren’t answered according to our preferred timeline. Lysa describes this as “God’s mystery bumping into my need for reassurance.” When we face that tension with raw honesty, it begs the question: Is this really about control, or is it fear?

One of the most unique aspects of this book comes at the end of each chapter, where a QR code directs you to a personal video with Lysa, each 10 minutes or less. She brings the chapter to life with practical application, creating a connection that feels as though she is walking alongside you as you turn the pages.

Lysa offers practical tools for navigating feelings of powerlessness, reframing our responses in truth, setting boundaries, and recognizing what is not ours to carry for another person.

Ultimately, she teaches the distinction between surrender and stewardship. Surrender is trusting God to do what only He can do, while stewardship is faithfully tending to what He has entrusted to us. I don’t simply release my burdens to God; I allow Him to “reassign” me to where I can contribute. Surrender doesn’t mean doing nothing. It means trusting God with what is beyond me while faithfully stewarding what He has placed within my hands.

I give this 5⭐️.

Lysa is so REAL!

I was thrilled to receive this ARC after reading her book Good Boundaries and Goodbyes. This is exactly what I needed to move forward from some difficult life chapters. Many faith-based books are preachy and feel unrealistic. Not this one. Lysa shares her honest struggles. She is clear about how hard it is to make peace with complicated circumstances. She pairs scripture with stories with coping techniques in a blend that makes self-assessment and moving forward possible. I journaled my way through this e-book and look forward to a physical copy I can write in.

I have already pre-ordered several copies to give as gifts to others that I know are struggling with circumstances that are not peaceful and are not in our control.

I have read almost every book Lysa TerKeurst has written, and she is an author who consistently ranks very high for me. Her books have a way of challenging my thinking and giving me something to carry with me long after I finish reading. Unfortunately, Making Peace with What I Can't Control just didn't have that same impact on me.

The message is certainly an important one. Lysa addresses the exhausting tendency we can have to try to control people, circumstances, and outcomes because we're afraid of what might happen if we don't. She encourages readers to recognize the fears behind our need for control and to learn the difference between healthy responsibility and trying to manage things that were never ours to manage in the first place. There are some very honest questions here about trusting God when He doesn't seem to be changing the people or circumstances we desperately want Him to change.

For me, though, I finished the book without that feeling I often have with Lysa's books—the feeling that something shifted in my thinking or that I walked away with a particular truth that I couldn't stop thinking about. It was good, and there were certainly things I appreciated, but overall, it was just okay for me.

And I think it's important to acknowledge that sometimes a book's impact has as much to do with where we are in life when we read it as it does with the book itself. Someone else may read this at exactly the right time and find it incredibly meaningful and life-changing.

I'm still a huge fan of Lysa TerKeurst and will absolutely continue reading her books. This one just didn't resonate with me in the same way her others have.

One of my favorite Bible Study teachers is back with, yet another, gem I felt was aimed right at me. I struggle with the whole "crossing that bridge when we get to it" thing. I'm more of an "I want to know what is on the bridge so I can be prepared for it" kind of gal. I don't like the unknown. I don't like surprises that aren't good ones. So trusting God has been a journey He has taken me on. So this book hit the bullseye with me.



If you've been through painful, shocking, unforeseeable things this book is for you. Once life has taught you to always be on your guard and to have your defenses ready to go, it's very difficult to stop living that way. Life has taught you not to. Your body has learned not to relax because another tidal wave of stuff is just around the corner you seem to be rapidly approaching.



Within these pages of, Making Peace With What I Can't Control, Lysa addresses the variations of control- what they mean and how they look in daily life. She's going to distinguish the difference between responsible and controlling mindsets. As you uncover all this, she includes examples from her own life. She walks you through the pitfalls of when control crosses over into negative territory.



Many of us have had someone in our lives who's behavior dictated our own behavior. This hit home for me because I had a friendship like this. While it started out healthy and with boundaries, over the years I was worn down to the point of my own choices and actions participated in the unhealthy control cycle it morphed into. This person's unhealthy need for control became the main influence on what I said and did- to my utter detriment. I became someone I no longer recognized.



Learning to trade my will for God's will has been a long, long process. I've repeatedly thought I had a given situation only to make a mess of things in the end. Had I just let God drive the bus, we wouldn't have hit so many trees along the way. I had to learn that He knows what He's doing. He sees the puzzle fully done, where I only have a few pieces of it. I exhausted myself trying to make everything go the way I felt it was best only to lose it all anyway. I fell on my face countless times because I was trying to force something to happen that wasn't meant to happen.



I strongly recommend this book! Making Peace With What I Can't Control is a great tool to help you re-evaluate your life. It helps you see what is on your plate that shouldn't be. Lysa is phenomenal at hitting you with the hard lessons through love. Every chapter has a QR code that sends you to a bonus video. it may be a craft or further discussion on what you were reading about, but helpful nonetheless.



You deserve to live with less stress on your shoulders. I encourage you to allow Lysa help teach you a way to do this. She's an amazing teacher who brings her vulnerability to the table, but also backed up expertise with professionals.

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review

This book came to my attention at just the right time. So much of my life right now seems like uncontrollable absolute chaos. So of course I picked it up!


Lysa’s books are hit or miss for me. This one I enjoyed. Lysa takes readers through how to handle situations where we think we’re doing something loving, but it’s only enabling sin and not actually changing anything.

Lysa does a great job incorporating her story into the theme of the book. Her openness about her struggles and her healing have been so crucial in her legitimacy in continuing to write books. AND she backs up what she says with Scripture. I feel much more at peace about some situations I’m going through at the moment, and part of that is due to reading through this book and truly giving over to God what I can’t control

WOW. I have read every book that Lysa has written, and I just feel like God uses her books in my life at the exact moment that I need them. I requested this book not even really knowing if it was something that would "hit home" for me. I didnt think that I struggled with control. So I was not sure if this would be a book that would be helpful or if I would just read it and get some good information. Little did I know that God wanted me to see and deal with control.
This book was SO helpful to my heart and I know without a doubt that God used this at exactly the right moment. Lysa's ability to be real and honest with what she is struggling with is a ministry all of its own. Because once she started explaining the things she does and how she tried to control things, I realized I did the exact things and now I have a label for it. I now know that I struggle with fear based control, and that God wants to deal with it in me.
This book not only opened my eyes to that, but it then gave me practical tools and the language to start tackling it with God, I loved the questions at the end of each chapter that helped me journal and work through things in my heart. I also loved the videos that we had access to. It helped me really process through the chapter that I was in.
I cannot recommend this book enough, and I am just so grateful for the way God is using this book even after I have read it to work on me.

Wow. Just the title is a "mic drop" kind of moment, detailing exactly what you'll be getting into and fleshing out throughout this book. This comes at a very coincidental time in my life where I am struggling to make peace with certain things 100% out of my control. Is it hard to surrender to God in word? Not really. Is it hard to surrender to God in deed and thought when things don't go your way? Absolutely. TerKeurst does an amazing job highlighting in Scripture the obedience and surrender that God desires from us as well as how to live this out in a practical way within difficult relationships in our lives. I have benefited from reading almost all of her books she's written and this book does not disappoint. The only reason I rated it 4 starts is the heavy reliance upon the the "Message" translation of bible verses. I appreciate her stating that it is not an actual translation of the Bible, I personally still feel it this version takes too many liberties with the sacred interpretation of Scripture.
Thank you to Nelson Books and Netgalley for granting me access to an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this book. I knew it would be helpful & full of good theology. Lysa is always so relatable. I really enjoyed the QR codes at the end of each chapter with Lysa & Joel Muddamalle. Their podcast has been so impactful in my life and so has this book. We have to place our fears into God’s hands in order to have complete peace. Thank you NetGalley, Lysa Terkeurst, and Thomas Nelson for this advanced reader copy!

Straight out of the gate: I *highly* recommend this book! 5+ stars!!! It’s not just about control by any means. It’s so much more. Read it if you are a controller, fixer, over-thinker, perfectionist, pleaser, etc. I think I highlighted half the book! As it says in the subtitle, it IS exhausting. And it is overwhelming and absolutely draining. *Cue image of panting hamster on a very wobbly wheel….*

I think anyone can benefit from this book, especially if you have a difficult person - or people - in your life that cause stress and heartache for you. With the season I am in, this book is especially helpful. I can only work on myself rather than be consumed by loved ones who are choosing to hurt themselves, me, and/or others. Only God can heal. I cannot carry it OR marinate in it. I can love them BUT also hand it over to our Creator.

I have pre-ordered a physical copy. There are QR codes throughout the physical and digital copies that connect you to personal videos via the author’s website.

Lysa TerKeurst is an author that feels like a friend you’re sharing hearts with over coffee. I’ve read her before. I’m not much for non-fiction reading outside of the Bible. HOWEVER, she’s one of a few NF authors that I really enjoy. She gives a lot of Scriptural backup, is very practical, and does not infuse nonsense and false teaching into her writing.

This is only one of MANY highlights of this book. It was so hard to choose one to add into my review:

“I’ve overstrategized, overplanned, and overmanaged to the point where I talk about my exhaustion way more than I talk about the goodness of my God.”
(Loc. 1928)

Finding peace is what we need as we struggle with that which we can’t control. Only the Lord is the Author of Peace.

* My thanks to Thomas Nelson and to Net Galley for an advance digital copy for voluntary review. My rating and review are solely my own opinion and in my own words.
#netgalley #thomasnelson #lysaterkeurst

I loved this book so much. . It was real and honest, insightful, and well written. Meaningful.
I especially appreciated the chapter at a glance sections with points to remember, verses that were mentioned. There are spaces for questions to reflect on, prayer, and access to different correlating messages. This book found me right when I needed it. Highly recommend.

I don’t think I was ready to read this book. There’s a lot to unpack here, and I wasn’t really ready to face my truth while reading this.

If there’s one thing to take away from this book, it’s this: “my efforts to control do not prevent my fears from coming true”. It’s such a hard truth to grasp, especially when you struggle with anxiety. I like how Lisa admits that she has a hard time trusting that God is in control. That is also something that’s hard to admit because we are taught to trust God, he is in control of everything, but human nature takes over, and it’s hard to trust him, so it was nice to know I wasn’t alone in that.

Every chapter ends with points to remember, a list of verses relating to the chapter, reflection questions, a prayer, and a QR code where she shares more of her peace journey.

If you ever feel fear and anxiety taking over when you should be turning to your trust in the Lord, pick this book up!

As someone who wants to control everything in my life, this book came along at the perfect time. This book is spiritual based and has plenty of scripture to back it up. I really want to lean into the themes from this book but especially that I cannot carry it all, that only God can if we turn it over to him. I plan to purchase this book for myself and share with my family and close friends.

Making Peace with What I Can’t Control came into my life at exactly the right time. I have spent so much time trying to hold everything together (especially over the past year), worrying about the people I love, and feeling responsible for situations and outcomes that are completely beyond my control. I felt understood on nearly every page.

Lysa writes with compassion, honesty, and an understanding of how exhausting it can be to constantly anticipate problems, overthink EVERYTHING, and try to fix it all. The reminder that surrendering control doesn't mean giving up or that we no longer care was really meaningful for me right now. Recognizing what's ours to carry and trusting God with everything else is key.

Practical guidance, biblical wisdom, and reassurance that God is still working, even when we can't see or understand what He's doing, fill this book! It helped me recognize some of my own unhealthy patterns while still making me feel encouraged rather than judged.

This was such a comforting, convicting, and timely book for me. I know I will return to it whenever I feel myself trying to carry the weight of the world again. Five heartfelt stars!

Thank you to Nelson Books and NetGalley for providing me with an advance copy of this book. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
Thank you to Nelson Books and NetGalley for providing me with an advance copy of this book. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.