"The key to freedom in Christ is letting go."
Not easy, especially when it’s something you have really been needing or wanting. I have especially been struggling with this for about a year. When we (His followers) accepted Christ, we let go, saying, "What You have, God, is better than anything I could ever attain." God has reminded me of the words of a song:
"O, no, You never let go, through the calm and through the storm."
It's true, God never lets go of those who are His. "Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." -Hebrews 13:5 He has no need to let go of anything He's holding because He's perfect and nothing ever weighs Him down, not even me. Humans, however, have need to let go of things and people sometimes because we are not perfect and we place things and people above The One who made us in the first place.
It almost seems impossible to let go and let God because we think we know what we should get in our lives, but it also seems silly to keep holding on when we know God has the best plan for us. What are we holding on to? Why do we hold on so tightly? When do we know to let go and stop holding on? How do we do it?
The first and second question you may have an answer for. Maybe your relative is sick with a disease and you’re holding on to him/her because you’re so afraid to let go, fear of that person dying. Or you are really wanting to buy/build a house or sell one and it seems to be taking forever and a year. Your friend is mad at you or vice versa and you cannot let go of whatever happened. You want to drop your pride, but it always ends back at your doorstep. You name it. There are things in this life we cling to for different reasons. We were made to cling (“hold on tightly to”) but some of the things we keep holding need to be let go. To let go does not mean we lose hope in God. BibleStudytools.com says hope means:
“To trust in, wait for, look for, or desire something or someone; or to expect something beneficial in the future.”
My hope should be put in Christ, not in a person or a thing, an event or idea. Humans were made to cling to Christ.
“‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’” Jeremiah 29:11
I would think the time to let go is from the start. Everything is always better in God’s Hands and not our own. Don’t wait until you become consumed with the thought of your desire or worry. It will be easier for us in the future if we let go in the beginning and trust God in the journey. There may be some situations where we have to let go several times. I have become consumed with my desire and have let go and drawn it back up again so much. It’s not too late to let go again. Thank Jesus He’s always willing to help us. When we first desire something/someone, or have a stronghold in our life that we want to shake but can’t, we talk to Jesus about it and then lay it before Him, allowing Him to do what He wants in our lives. Sounds so simple, but I can testify that for me it is anything but.
“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:7
Prayer is vital. He knows when we look to Him and when we don’t. Keep thanking God for right now, even if "right now" is not what you have in mind. The Bible is our instruction book for life. God will speak to us through His word, through music, through nature, journaling, etc. It may not always be what we want to hear, but we can receive peace by submitting to Him. In times of trouble, in times of joy, choose to be held, trusting that if God created the universe and everyone in it, He has created your future and it is good.
I once heard Joyce Meyer say that no matter what you’re going through, to trust God and do good. Don’t just trust God or just do good, but do something for someone else while you trust God. This will help us get outside of ourselves. My mom tells me to keep saying “I trust You, God. I trust You, God. I trust You, God”. Even when I’m confused out of my mind, God still knows what He is doing. He sees my current picture, and He already knows the end result! So while we’re here wondering what the heck is going on, He is the guide to the end of the tunnel. Whatever you do, keep trusting Him and have hope in Him. Failure is not in God's character.
