THE MOST POWERFUL LESSON GOD TAUGHT ME ABOUT LETTING GO

Letting go is all about releasing our clenched fists and trusting God with open hands. LET GO & LET GOD. Simple, right? Then why is it so hard to do?

CLOSED FISTS? 🤜🏻

OPEN HANDS? 🤲🏻

Where are you today, dear friends?  Are you holding on with such a vice grip that your hands are cramped and rigid, unable to receive anything? Or have you learned to release and let go, palms turned up and open, ready to accept?

A PLACE TO LEARN TO LET GO & LET GOD

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WHY LETTING GO & LETTING GOD IS SO HARD

Sometimes, we close our fists, desperately hanging on because we can’t let go. We tightly cling because we fear losing control.

“Please don’t take this from me…I cannot lose it. If I do, my whole world will fall apart.”

Other times, our clenched fists signal to the world that we won’t let go. We have been painfully wronged, unjustly accused, or willfully maligned.

“If I let go now, nothing will ever change. People will continue to take advantage of me. I have to hold on to what little I have left.

Because God created us with a need for love, acceptance, and security, it is our instinct to hold on even tighter when we feel these things slipping from our fingers.

And we all do it…clench our fists, tighten our grip, and refuse to let go.

It is not that everything we are holding onto is necessarily bad or wrong (we can hold on to some really good things!), it is just that we miss out on so much more (even better things!) that God wants to give us.

A man whose hands are full of parcels can’t receive a gift.”

C.S. Lewis

It took me quite a while to recognize this truth. By hanging to what I thought I could never let go, I refused to give God space to move in my life. Even though he showered me with acceptance, forgiveness, and grace, I was incapable of receiving them with open hands. I could not (would not) let go of the parcels (more like the baggage!) to accept his gifts.

Why? Because in order to open your hands, you have to let go, and it can be a scary thing to do:

• What if I let go and find myself all alone?
• What if I forgive only to get hurt again?
• What if I do all the right things and still fail?
• What if I show my true self and people reject me?
• What if I surrender control and people take advantage of me?

LETTING GO & LETTING GOD TO RECEIVE

Ironically, we need to let go to RECEIVE because

• the tighter we squeeze…
• the firmer we grasp…
• the stronger we clench…

The more we LOSE.

• Lose control.
• Lose peace.
• Lose connection.

Does the truth of this quotation hit you as hard as it does me?

In our chaotic and uncertain world, it is tempting to firmly grasp those things that give us a sense of control and comfort: our families, homes, jobs, friendships, activities, and freedoms.

If the past few months have taught us anything, it is this: only God is in control. And the harder we try to keep everything safe and secure in the palm of our hands, the more they slip through our fingers like grains of fine sand.

LETTING GO TO LET GOD

I don’t know about you, but it is exhausting trying to hold it all so tightly. I am weary, worn, and weak.

If closed fist cannot receive anything, I think I may be ready and willing to unclench my fists and offer everything to God with open hands.

I recently read a prayer of simple surrender that I want to be the attitude of my heart.

A PRAYER FOR LETTING GO

I hand over to your care, Lord.
My soul and body,
My mind and thoughts, my prayers and my hopes,
My health and my work, my life and my death,
My parents and my family, my friends and my neighbors,
My country and all men (and women!). Today and always.

Lancelot Andrews

I know it is difficult to open your hands when you feel:

• scared
• alone
• discouraged

I empathize with how hard it is to let go when you have been:

• hurt
• disappointed
• rejected

But God wants to take these things from you, so you don’t have to hold them anymore.

And guess what happens when you release them?

You have room for God to give you so much more.

JESUS MAKES A WAY FOR US TO LET GO

Jesus makes us this promise in Matthew 11:28-30:

Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me.
Get away with me and you’ll recover your life.
I’ll show you how to take a real rest.
Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it.
Learn the unforced rhythms of grace.
I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you.
Keep company with me and you’ll learn how to live freely and lightly.”

Matthew 11:28-30 (The Message)

A PRACTICAL WAY TO LET GO & LET GOD

CHOOSING OPEN HANDS INSTEAD OF CLOSED FISTS

What choice will you make today?

CLOSED FISTS? 🤜🏻

OPEN HANDS? 🤲🏻

Only with hands opened up in a posture of humble acceptance can you receive all that God wants to give you even in the middle of your disappointment, doubt, and despair.  

And once you decide what God offers is far greater than anything you are refusing to release, letting go will become much easier.

What do you need to hand over to God so that he can give you peace and rest?

WE CAN LET GO TOGETHER

I would love for you to share your heart, your experience, and your story in the comments so I can pray for you.

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