Letting Go

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. –Isaiah 55:8

On February 17, 2013 my Church had a sermon titled, “Celebrate Recovery”, which started with a testimony about recovery from an addiction. Then the sermon went into a video by the Skit Guys called “God’s Chisel”. It is an amazing video showing how we need to let go and let God control our lives. At the end of the sermon we had to write down on a piece of cardboard the areas that we need to give to God.

After a quick prayer to God to give me the strength to write down the truth. I asked God to help me be brave and not care what people around me will see is on my piece of cardboard.  With a shaky hand I wrote the first sentence, the one that was weighing on my heart. “FEAR OF LETTING GOD TAKE CONTROL”

I thought about the sentence I had just written and my relationship with God and how I want God to take control of some aspects of my life but not most of it. I just want God to control the part where he protects me. I only want God to control the part that gives me comfort. The image I have with this fear is like holding on to a rope with God pulling on the other side and my hands are burning from the friction of the rope. The pain is intense but I keep telling myself that I must hang on, I must keep control.

Compare to God (who is all knowing and understanding) my mind is so immature and unknowledgeable yet I still don’t want to let the creator of the universe control my life. What would be the benefit to letting God take control of my life. Will it be free from pain or sorrow? No. Will it be a smooth road and easy way? No it will not. And will my life be better if I do let God take control of my life? Yes it will, in the way God wants to mold me. The outcome is the goal, not the moment we are in. When preparing for a football game, the football player for months and months will endure a lot of pain and hard work, but the outcome is for the player to be ready for the game. Just like us, we need to be ready to be molded like Jesus and the process is not easy. It wasn’t easy for our Savior, what makes you think it will be easy for you? But the outcome is the great reward as it says in Matthew 25:23 is to hear God say, “‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your Lord.’”

So how do I accomplish this nearly impossible task of Letting God take control? I think for me to keep grounded and let the fear be controlled is accomplished by me these three ways.

1. Pray constantly – as it says in 1 Thessalonians 5:17 “pray without ceasing” God is there waiting for you to strike up a conversation. Ask for help, ask for understanding, but better yet I ask God for direction, “God I am giving you control, please guide me”
2. Ask others to help you – I have used this bible verse quite a bit however, it is a good verse. “Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls,” -Ecclesiastes 4:9-10. Use that friend to call you out, use the friend to lift you up and use that friend to be there for them too.
3. Remember the past – In the bible people were quick to forget what God had done for them. Be careful that you do not forget the Lord, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.” –Deuteronomy 6:12. So many times in the past God has delivered me, and yet I struggle with letting Him take control.

Lord, I humbly give all to you, including my life. Use me for Your work. In Jesus name, Amen.