Let it go.

Even though I have offered this as advice, one of the hardest, if not THE hardest thing for me sometimes is to “let it go”.  Whether its my kids, my finances or my way – it just ain’t easy!  How about you?  Are you one who can let it go?

When my oldest son was born with congenital heart disease, the advice I received from my pastor was to “let him go”.  I couldn’t fix him; there wasn’t anything I could do really to make him better. 

 

 

But to “let him go” was NOT an option!  He was my first born, my brand new baby.  I waited a LONG TIME for him – prayed for him and thought about him and now he was here and part of my life and . . . .

Needless to say, I HAD to let him go.  There was absolutely NOTHING I could do to make him healthy.  I pictured myself laying him at the altar of God (sort of like Abraham with his son, Isaac), and walking away.  Oh, I turned away – for a second.  Then I was right back there with him.

I practiced this scene in my head (and my heart) until I truly LET HIM GO.  This was my first experience of letting go – it was over 30 years go.  The two things I’ve learned about “letting go” is that 1) it takes practice and 2) you can’t do it without the Holy Spirit – oh, and it’s the hardest thing you will EVER do!

A friend told me today that she was “letting her daughter go” because she knew that God had her – He loved her more than she could ever love her, He would take care of her far better than she could and it was really her only option.  Knowing God was part of the “letting go” made the “letting go” a reality.

I know people who have hung on to “stuff” their whole entire lives.  They cannot or will not let go.  It’s not even an option for them anymore cause its so part of them.  One of my favorite quotes from Beth Moore is, “if you don’t deal with your stuff, your stuff deals with you.”  Isn’t that true? 

So whether it’s your child, “stuff” or a consuming hatred – letting go is the only way to true freedom.   The prophet Isaiah says in Chapter 61:

The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor.

He has sent me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn and provide for those who grieve in Zion, to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.

They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of His splendor.

 

It is God’s will for you to be free, free of this bondage that you are hanging on to.  WE ARE OAKS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS – HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS.  He has declared His favor and bestowed upon us His crown of beauty – a garment of His praise.  The evil one would like you in ashes and mourning, however, the God of the Universe has beauty in mind!

Can God really take care of your “stuff”?  Can He fix it or delete it or cure it?  Will He?  I don’t know – what I do know is He’s the only option – and that He’s good and able and faithful.  He’s loving and majestic and holy.  He’s the fullness of Him who fills everything in every way. 

Let it go, dear friend.  Close your eyes, leave it there.  Let it go.