Humbling grace

I had a really good talk with a friend of mine about how a lot of times we compete for control with God. This is especially manifested in how we react to the ones we love, or are closest to us, and indeed, all relationships. I think that this is especially a huge challenge if one is in a relationship or pursing one. The Lord has been teaching me to trust Him with people. The reality of it is that God does not need me in taking care of my family or my girlfriend. I am not the dependent means by which these close people in my life will be sanctified. It's a privilege when God gives me a small part to play in it, yes, but it's also a huge blessing when the Lord allows you to realize and practice the essential of trusting Him.
To be honest, I have caught myself sometimes being jealous when the close people in my life have sought advice elsewhere and it has changed their thinking when perhaps I would have had the same talk with them and it wouldn't have made sense to them. This has been very humbling to realise my place within God's work, a servant. A servant does not demand what his selfish desires want. Instead, being a servant also entails realizing that the world does not revolve around you. Being a godly servant to others also entails you denying yourself by even praying that the Lord would use people (other than you) in the lives of those whom we hold dear, in teaching them and growing them. I think of Matthew 9:36-38

"Seeing the people He felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dispirited like sheep without a shepherd. Then He said to His disciples, 'the harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His Harvest.' (italics added)

The reality of it is that people are God's harvest, not ours. People who are close to us, and to whom we minister to are God's harvest. We are commanded in this passage to pray to the Father that He may send more workers for His work. My influence in relationships, and ministry is not a one-man deal, it is not meant to be a selfish thing. Praise the Lord if my words fall on deaf ears to a friend of mine and the Lord uses another person. We tend to care more about our influence than people's hearts. We are prideful, selfish beings. Proverbs 1:5 reads:

'A wise man will hear and increase in learning, And a man of understanding will acquire wise counsel.'

Lord, help me to be humble in realizing my place as your servant, and a servant to others. Help me to see the bigger picture of your name being glorified through what you desire, rather than what I desire. Help me to be slow to speak, quick to hear, slow to anger, and quick to glorify your name. I ask Father that you send people to the lives of those closest to me, and those that I minister to, to be used by you in sanctifying them through your Spirit.