Let Go

Have you ever wanted something so bad that it consumed your every thought?  Sure, we all have.  Sometimes it might be a really good thing and other times it can actually be something that can bring real harm into our lives.  Let’s look at Abraham’s life as an example.  

Genesis 15:2-5 (Amplified Bible)  And Abram said, Lord God, what can You give me, since I am going on [from this world] childless and he who shall be the owner and heir of my house is this [steward] Eliezer of Damascus?  And Abram continued, Look, You have given me no child; and [a servant] born in my house is my heir. 

And behold, the word of the Lord came to him, saying, This man shall not be your heir, but he who shall come from your own body shall be your heir.  And He brought him outside [his tent into the starlight] and said, Look now toward the heavens and count the stars--if you are able to number them. Then He said to him, So shall your descendants be. 

Abraham waited years for the dream God promised him to come to pass and after much patience, Isaac was born.   It was a joyous celebration and a real step of faith and trust in God because Abraham learned to trust God to bring to pass the very desires in his heart.   Abraham grew fond of his son and cherished every moment with him.  Then one day God asked Abraham to sacrifice his only son, the one God promised to make into many descendants.  It’s amazing to see that Abraham responded in obedience to what God asked him to do. 

            Genesis 22:12, 15-18 (Amplified Bible)

And He said, “Do not lay your hand on the lad or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear and revere God, since you have not held back from Me or begrudged giving Me your son, your only son.”

The Angel of the Lord called to Abraham from heaven a second time And said, I have sworn by Myself, says the Lord, that since you have done this and have not withheld [from Me] or begrudged [giving Me] your son, your only son, In blessing I will bless you and in multiplying I will multiply your descendants like the stars of the heavens and like the sand on the seashore. And your Seed (Heir) will possess the gate of His enemies, And in your Seed [Christ] shall all the nations of the earth be blessed and [by Him] bless themselves, because you have heard and obeyed My voice.

  

Abraham had to “Let Go” of the very thing that was so important to him and trust that God would bring it back into his life if it was good for him.  Abraham had no way of really knowing whether or not he would ever see his son again.  But He trusted in the One who could save his son and raise him back to life, if need be, and ultimately carry on his lineage.   

The bible says in Psalm 84:11 (NIV) For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless.  This means that God has our best interest at heart and will bring into our lives the things that will be good for us and keep the things out of our lives that will ultimately harm us if we allow Him to lead us.  Sometimes, we think we need something so badly to be happy or satisfied that we override God’s leading and push forward to get our way.  The bible says in Proverbs 14:12, there is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death.  How many people push forward with a relationship that ends up being very destructive because they overlook the Holy Spirits leading or godly council in their lives?  Or, they push and claw to be in relationship with their boss, not because they value him, but because they want something from him…promotion.  We seek so many things, but are our motives pure in God’s eyes?  There is nothing wrong with asking God for something, but we need to be okay with God saying “NO” or “Not Yet”.  His ways are higher than our ways and He can see into the future and knows what can eventually harm us if we get our way all the time.  So, what am I saying?  We, as children of God need to be confident in asking God for desires that are in our heart, but let Him dictate what is best for us.  Don’t hold so tightly to something that you can’t let go and trust God to bring it into our lives if it is something that will benefit us.  Are you struggling to “Let Go” of a situation and place it completely in the hands of God?  Maybe you are trying to get a job and you are being overly demanding of a business or a loved one who is trying to help you.  When in actuality, God is saying trust me that my timing is perfect.  Or maybe you have unhealthy friendships because they are influencing you in a negative way that will take you away from God instead of closer to Him.  And God is saying to you…let them go and trust Me.  Our job is to trust God that He knows best.  Just as Abraham had to give God the dreams in his heart, God requires that of you and me.  I have found that when I give God everything, I have peace knowing that the God of the universe has my best interest at heart and loves to give amazing gifts to me.  If He doesn’t want me to have something, then as an act of faith, I just trust Him, even if my flesh is screaming to have its way!  Will you trust God today?  Will you just let go?  If you find yourself struggling in this area, ask God to help you give Him all the desires and dreams of your heart.  He is full of mercy and wants to embrace you and forgive you of past mistakes.  You can let go with God’s help.