Are you a Control Girl?
But control is such a burden! It weighs us down and tears at our relationships. We become the worst version of ourselves, as we try to manage all of life’s contingencies and lunge for one loose thread after another. Thankfully, there’s another way.
God never designed for us to live under the burden of trying to control it all. Instead, He invites us to find the peace, security, and joy that come—not from gripping onto control, but from laying it down.
Join me—Shannon Popkin—as I share about my own struggles with control, and as I mine the stories of seven Control Girls of the Bible, looking for warnings, lessons, and new insights about God. Learn how you, too, can lay down this burden and find rest in surrendering to the One who truly is in control.
Control Girl Quiz
For years, I failed to see that I had any control issues at all. I thought of myself as invested. Concerned. Just trying to help. I only took matters into my own hands because I cared so much! The last word I would have chosen to describe myself was “controlling”. Besides, nobody told me outright that I was controlling–not even my husband. Yet, there were signs….
Anger. Anxiety. Fear. Perfectionism. Each of these came erupting, with ever increasing frequency, from my control-craving heart. Does this sound like you?
Do you wonder if you might be a Control Girl?
Take the quiz to find out more!
“Shannon has a wonderful ability to translate the truths of God’s Word into interactive Bible studies that speak to relevant issues women face today. Control Girl is a penetrating look at how selfishness and self- protectiveness wreck lives—and why surrender and trust are God’s life- giving pathways to true freedom and joy.”
Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth“If you’ve ever struggled with control issues, read this book. With personal vulnerability, biblical depth, powerful personal illustrations, and pointed application questions, Shannon Popkin reveals how seven women of the Bible can teach us how to surrender our will to God’s design for our future. It’s ideal for personal use or for small-group studies.”
Carol Kent“In the style of Liz Curtis Higgs, Control Girl is an easy and entertaining read, yet Shannon Popkin packs a punch where we so need it if we are to be set free from the stressful habit that robs our joy and ruins our relationships!”
Dee Brestin“Delightful. Insightful. Helpful. Popkin’s sweet blend of storytelling and Scripture helps the medicine go down. If you’re a control freak, this study is just what the doctor ordered.”
Mary KassianWhat group leaders are saying about Control Girl:
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“In this funny, tender, and truth-telling book, Shannon Popkin peels back the layers of our control problem. If that sounds a bit like a root canal, wait until you crack the cover. In a tone that feels like coffee with a close friend, Shannon bravely goes first, letting us see the reality of her own need to control while simultaneously pointing us to the hope found in God’s Word.”
Erin Davis“Shannon gets painfully honest and to the point as she challenges all of us Control Girls to surrender that burden and experience the Happy Ending God has planned! . . . She takes us through the lives of seven women from Scripture to help us discern more readily when we are grabbing for control rather than walking in the rest that Christ provides.”
Kimberly Wagner“No one wants to be enslaved to anger, anxiety, or fear. Yet many battle those emotions without making any headway in their struggle to fix themselves and others. In Control Girl, my longtime friend Shannon Popkin offers an alternative strategy. She shows how biblical thinking helps readers understand the conditions of their hearts so that they can find freedom in true spiritual growth through the wisdom of the Word and the power of the Holy Spirit. I highly recommend it.”
Dr. Chris Brauns“Authentic, relevant, and truth-filled, Control Girl is written especially for any woman longing for security, peace, and joy. Through her Bible-based teaching and humorous stories, Shannon reminds us God never intends us to carry around the burden of control, and instead offers us the gift of sweet surrender to him. I finished Control Girl being reminded afresh that for those who love God, there awaits the happiest Happy Ending imaginable. Hooray! Highly recommended!”
Cindy Bultema“When you start out reading a book for an endorsement and it becomes your Bible study, that is a good sign. Instead of making notes about how good the book is, I found myself writing down how God was using Shannon’s words to address the heart of my own control issues. Control Girl is helping me solidify my foundation as a Jesus Girl, giving me confidence to practice surrender first and be OK with God not answering all my questions.”
Jen Ferguson