How many times have we heard the phrase, “Let go and let God?” It is such a wonderful thought. People wear it on shirts, have it displayed on plaques in their homes, and offer it as advice to others. This seems to be the obvious motto for the Christian life. The desire of all Christians is supposed to be for God to have control in their lives, so why do I struggle with it?
I have a really hard time letting go. I would not say that I am necessarily a worrier, but I am a control freak. I need to be in control of every situation, so much so that I have a habit of planning out every hour of our vacations. I moved around a great deal as a child, which resulted in switching schools eleven times before I graduated from high school. Perhaps this is what created my need to be in control and my severe aversion to change and the unknown. I do not even enjoy moving furniture around in my house. I want everything to be the same; It makes me happy to know what to expect. I guess I feel that if I am in control of the situation, then I know what to expect.
I know that God is in control. I know that He knows exactly what my family needs, but I have no control over it; therefore, I worry and become anxious. I doubt and fear. If I am being honest, I rob myself and my family of the joy and peace that comes from trusting God—from letting go and letting God.
It is important to do what we can, but after that, we must let go. Consider the feeding of the five thousand. The people were hungry. There was no food to feed them, but the disciple Andrew did what he could and then let God do the rest. Andrew found a lad who was willing to share his lunch but had no idea how five loaves of bread and two fishes were going to solve the problem. When we do what we can but then let go and let God, miracles take place.
Sometimes the hardest part about letting go and letting God is the waiting. I find that I often will finally let go and let God, but then I take it back because I become impatient. As I wrote this, the Lord reminded me of the price of impatience and of taking things back from Him. He reminded me of the story of Saul in I Samuel 13. By letting go and letting God, Saul was anointed King of Israel, but he lost the kingdom when he decided to take control of the situation because he was impatient. I do not want to lose the blessings that God has in store for me because I become impatient.
As a Christian, I think that letting go and letting God is the hardest thing I have needed to learn. It is not a lesson that I have mastered by any means. I am still learning this truth. In fact, I often feel as if I am being tested on a daily basis to see if I have learned it. I must remind myself that if I can trust God to save my soul from Hell and to give me everlasting life, then I certainly can trust Him to take care of my daily needs and see me through any situation. Any time when I have let go and let God, I have been amazed at the outcome. It may be hard to do, but I never have and never will regret letting go and letting God.
by Crystal Collingsworth
