Learning to Let Go

If you’ve been stopping by for any length of time you know I have the habit of facing hard things. I don’t do that because I am masochistic. I truly believe that God calls each of us to change. I also know how much easier it is to simply live life on auto pilot without really engaging in the process of change.

As a Christ follower you can call change by several names: becoming more Christ-like. Sanctification. Transformation. Dying to self. Learning to Let Go. John the Baptist said it this way: “I must decrease that He might increase.”

I started this post in May. I am finishing it in August. I have experienced the lessons of letting go quite a lot in these 3 months. Our youngest graduated from high school and then took a 3.5 week tour through Europe with a friend; we rented out our home of 15 years; we have moved 3 times so far since June; we deposited our son in his dorm 3000 miles from home; we will be leaving our church community of 18 years and moving again 2 times before the end of September. I mention all this so you know I have some ‘cred’ when I tell you what I’ve learned in the process.

You can take Jesus at His Word. When He said ” I am with you always” He means always.

He showed Himself trustworthy years ago when I didn’t know what trust was supposed to look like. He showed Himself faithful to me when I ignored Him. Jesus has lovingly restored me after my denials just as He did with Peter.

He walked with me through the heartache of letting go: of loved ones when they passed from this life; of the home where we raised our sons; of the sons as they moved on to their next season of life with us as cheerleaders from a long distance; of familiar places, sights, sounds and smells; of my daily routine, just to name a few. So thankful Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever.

The most amazing thing happens when I open my clenched fingers to let something or someone go: Jesus is there to take my hand in His. While my fingers have been squeezed tight around a relationship or a thing or my way I haven’t been fully able to cling to Him. The stuff has gotten in the way of a closer walk with Jesus.

Now I want you to know that just because He has asked me to let go in so many ways does not mean that is how He will work in your life. I do know God wants our whole hearted devotion and if there is something or someone that has a higher priority in your time and attention than God does, He may ask you to let go so you can receive a greater thing: a closer, deeper relationship with Him.

He is my constant. He asked me to let go of things that I held dear in little ways as I’ve walked with Him. Serving others instead of myself; giving away items that I treasure; keeping my mouth shut when I want to say ‘I know better’; I learned to let go first of little things before He called me to these big things this year. Because I have gotten to know Jesus well and because He has been Who He says He is, it is easier to let go. Jesus wants to be your constant too. He loves you so much. Will you let go and let Him in?