The freedom that God desires us to experience comes only as we let go and surrender everything to Him. We must let go of our past in order to live for Christ in the present. We must let go of old memories in order to make new memories. We must let go of pain and problems and patterns that steal our joy or the joy of those nearby. We must let go of people whom God created in His image for His purpose because they are not ours. We must let go of thoughts that disrupt peace, our relationships, or our sleep.
We must let go of distractions, people-pleasing, perfectionism, performing, analyzing, asking “why” questions, because we can’t have peace when we’re still trying to figure it all out and be in control. We must let go of emotions that keep us from being thankful and being connected with God, ourselves, and others. We must let go of pride and any roots that we’re still feeding that keep us from loving God and from loving people wholeheartedly.
Now let’s go from conceptual to personal. I must let go of anything that I still call “mine” and recognize that every relationship, every part and system in my body, every gift, and opportunity have been gifted to me by God for His purpose and glory. Every moment can be lived for God and enjoyed when I let go of wishing for what I don’t have. Every moment with people can be a blessing when I see and seize the opportunity to be fully-present and to give my all to love from my heart. I must be thankful and willing to receive from God and people and experiences—both pleasant and painful—in order to keep growing. I must let go of my preoccupation with self and others and stuff. I must live with an awareness that I will never get this moment back again to be attentive, aware, and obedient to what God is giving me.
Letting go and living in complete surrender to the will of God doesn’t just happen. Letting go of anything that binds or hinders us from being free in Christ (Hebrews 12:1,2) requires a willing heart and a surrendered spirit. Letting go means not holding anything in our mind or heart against God, ourselves, or each other. We must forgive as we’ve been forgiven by God. We must choose to turn to God in love and gratitude and let Him be Lord of all instead of trying to get our own way. We must continually let go of people and problems and be where our feet are now. We must give thanks for this moment and seize it instead of wishing for what we had or don’t have. We must lay our lives down each day as living sacrifices and let God change the way we think, feel, and live (Romans 12:1,2).
It’s hard to let go of people and the past. It’s hard to stop trying to control everything. It’s hard to give up mistrust and to live by faith. It’s hard to love instead of self-protect. It’s hard to connect when we’re used to disconnecting. It’s hard to be fully-present when we’re used to being distracted. It’s hard to forgive when we don’t want to forgive. It’s hard to suffer for Christ when we’re seeking comfort and pleasure. It’s hard to turn off our anxious brains when they’re all over-the-place. It’s hard to “be still and know that He is God” (Psalm 46:10). It’s hard to pray when we want to worry and wonder and question. It’s hard to listen when all we want to do is to be heard.
O Lord, please forgive us of our sin. Please turn our hearts and minds back to You. Please restore the joy of our salvation, and grant us a willing spirit to sustain us (Psalm 51:12). Fill us again with Your love, Your grace, and Your peace. And as we learn and apply Your Words to our daily lives, help us to know and live out Your Truth and set us free. We ask this in Jesus’ Name. Amen.