Letting go is one of the most difficult things ever. You know I’m telling the truth here! It doesn’t matter what “it” is, it is hard to let go.
Letting go means you place 100% trust in whomever you are letting things go to. It means that you have confidence in that person to handle things better than you would handle them yourself.
You relinquish all control and you step away, trusting.
Letting go signifies great faith.
We have so much to let go of don’t we? I’ll list just a few that quickly come to mind:
- Emotional baggage from the past
- Fear of failure for the future
- Fear of success
- Choices we’ve made and the outcome that is sure to follow
- Our children and their choices
- Our health, appearance and physical features
- Our finances, or lack thereof
- Our dreams, desires and opportunities that await us
- Our fear of the unknown – the what if’s, why’s and what was I thinking
- Our yesterday, so we may enjoy today, while looking towards tomorrow
Many think that letting go is a sign of weakness, but in all actuality, it displays great strength and faith.
I want that kind of faith.
I want to easily let go and let God.
As a Christian we are “letting go” of those things to the Lord. Our Savior! Our heavenly Father! The Kind of Kings, Lord of Lords and name like no other.
We aren’t just letting go to some other person that just halfheartedly cares about us – NO, we are letting go to the ONE who gave HIS Son for us as a sacrifice. We are letting go to the ONE that cares for our desires, hopes and dreams like no other. We are letting go to the one who created us and then planned that everything would work out for us as He planned. We are letting go to the ONE who overcame death, hell and has endured anything we could ever endure.
I pray that you’ll confidently let go of whatever it is that weighs you down, knowing that the One you are trusting your eternity to is the ONE you are letting go of your problems, hopes, dreams and fears to.
Let go and Let God!
What do you need to hand over to God? Many people see this site daily and I’m sure they would be encouraged to see that they “are not alone” in handing over a few things.
Encourage someone in the comments below.
(I’ll start out by leaving mine here)
This comes from a dream that I recently had. In the dream our family is struggling with all that we are currently struggling with. I felt extremely small and overwhelmed at the things we faced. The dream was very chaotic and fear ruled my heart. (I won’t bore you with the gory details, but my daughter’s health, the finances that have hit us due to this, my son spending his first summer so far away – completely in God’s will, but still painful as I miss him much more than anyone could ever imagine and several other things)
I was walking and praying as I so often do and somehow ended up on a bridge. I have a horrid fear of heights and this was really, really high. Immediately my fear kicks in and I’m frozen. I can’t think and can barely breathe when the bridge starts to crumble. It’s foggy and I can’t see below. I’m hanging on for my life and I hear, clearly, God saying… “trust me, let go”
I’d love to say that immediately, I just let go, but I can’t.
I did what most of us do and cried out in fear and anguish, “but Lord, I’m scared just get me off here” He again, said…”trust me, let go.”
At that point, with tears flowing, my heart was thinking ok, it seems I don’t have a choice, but I woke up before I let go, so I don’t actually know if I truly trusted God enough to let go.
When I woke up, I had been crying in my sleep….that is just how fearful I had been.
So, today…right here, right now… as best as I know how, I’m letting it all go to Him.
My family – I prayed for a Christian family, HE gave me one…they belong to Him. Lord, just keep using us for YOU.
My finances – with more appointments, specialists, surgery and such looming, there is no way we can ever afford any of it without the Lord. (When the dr. left the room, the first question Megan asked was….Mom, can we afford this? I told her it is a non-issue, that God will provide.) It belongs to Him.
My dream of a larger home – we’ve lived in a tiny 1100 sq ft home since Megan was born. If I get a bigger home, I get one. If not, I’ll enjoy my mansion in Heaven one day.
Spreading Joy & Helping Others -- God allowed me to start this and HE will have to fund it. I won’t borrow money to help people. If we help others, it’s because God will put it on the hearts of others to partner with us. We will do what we can with what we have. It’s His.
I’m going to just trust Him. It’s all I can do. It’s all HIS. I’m letting go.
{{hugs}}
Never Let Go – David Crowder 
Never Once -- Matt Redman 
Overcome – Jeremy Camp 
John 16:33
These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
1 John 5:4
For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
1 John 5:5
Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?
Psalms 55:22 Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.
1 Peter 5:7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
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God bless you. I will be praying for you and your family. Letting go is so hard, it shouldn’t be and yet it is. It may take awhile, but God is patient with us. He will hold your hand as you learn to let go.
When my father died I suffered from horrible nightmares. One was that we had buried him alive. I was having trouble letting him go, even though I knew I’d see him again in heaven. I’d love to tell you how I learned to let go, but I honestly don’t know. All I can say is God gave me the time I needed to heal and walked with me as I grieved. Then He provided the strength and grace to let go.
I guess maybe it’s a process? Because I still am learning to let go of worry over finances (even though time and again he has provided) and worry over losing other family members (even though I know it’s not the end) and so on.
TC Avey recently posted..The New N-word
it is such a process. I thought I had let go a long time ago, but this dream caused me to step back and re-think it.
I just want so much for my family – and right now, its difficult. but I KNOW who holds tomorrow.
you encourage me more than you may ever know…thank you.
Marie recently posted..Letting Go
Marie,
God bless you for writing this post! I agree letting go is defiantly one of the most difficult things ever! We want to hold on so bad. The fears we ‘tuck’ away but we know they are there. We may think letting go makes us vulnerable… but letting go and letting God is such a powerful thing- we open a door of what we can’t even imagine. Letting it all go and placing it in His powerful and loving hands, take it all Lord! Take the load off our heavy heart! Letting go of a troubled heart and Letting God take care of it gives my mind, body, and spirit serenity. Thank you for sharing your struggles with us, it’s helps to know that we are not alone – that ‘you’ are not the only one going through difficulties, so thank you again for sharing and keeping it 100& real! You are such an awesome person and you have such a beautiful spirit! And with all that you’re going through you remain a strong and faithful woman of God! Thank you for being an inspiration and an example to a young lady such as myself. Sending a big {{hug}} and know that you and your family are always in my prayers!
Angie recently posted..Coming out Gold
you know more of what goes on in my world than most – as you have given so much time to spreading JOY. I appreciate that too.
many think that i’m “joyful” because things are great….nothing is further from the truth. i am blessed, but things are often difficult and there is always a lot of work that goes into behind the scenes of what we are doing here at spreading joy.
i’m glad for friends like you and so many others who encourage!! thank YOU
Marie recently posted..Letting Go
Beautiful Marie, thank you for sharing this open, honest, and courageous post. I struggle incessantly. I have NEVER let go. I struggle incessantly with this… trying desparately to control what I cannot. I AM learning to be more accepting… and I pray I get there. I do know that whatever will be, will be… and I will always be ok. But it would be nice to be able to jsut let go, have faith, and trust. Thank you for this. xox
we all desperately try to control things – we are naturally control freaks. 🙂 its how we are. but sooo hard even though we know its gonna work out.
keep working through the process, remembering times past when you let go and faith was right there.
thank you for the blessing you are to me!
Marie recently posted..Letting Go
Take the load off our heavy heart! Letting go of a troubled heart and Letting God take care of it gives my mind, body, and spirit serenity. Thanks for the wonderful post.
Claire recently posted..Why Can t I Become Pregnant
I AM learning to be more accepting… and I pray I get there. I do know that whatever will be, will be… and I will always be ok. Thanks for sharing.
Barry recently posted..Spring Allergies Symptoms
@barry & @claire keep working, keep taking the steps, keep focused on past victories to strengthen the hope of future ones.
thank you for sharing here and encouraging us
Marie recently posted..Letting Go
Wonderful, wonderful post.
thank you sooo much for stopping by and reading. I hope that you were encouraged!
{{HUGS}}
My biggest thing I hold onto is worrying. I want to let it go, but its like this security blanket I have always had. It’s always been there and I am used to it, so I hold onto it. I want to let go of this so I can be a happier person. God has given me a good life, a good family and a good hubby, so I need to trust Him that He will provide for every other need I might have as well. I am sorry that you are going through such a rough time, but it really does sound like you have such a good perspective on things. I love how you kept repeating Let Go and Let God, so simple, but so powerful!!
Susan recently posted..Liebster Blog Award
Hey girl,
I love this post. You are so right. It seems like the battle of letting go is so CONSTANT! I am in the process of letting go of wanting to be in control. Control of when the baby comes, control of what life will be like, control of what other’s think…it’s exhausting. Letting go is essential.
Becky recently posted..Shopping with Hormones
SO WONDERFUL! I am loving this so much. I am working on this myself. Being out of control is outside my comfort zone big time. When I’m not in control I feel out of control when really I need to remember He is in control. I need to trust him. Bookmarking this for future reference! Thanks for linking up with us this week!
Kelly recently posted..Dance {5 Minute Friday}
@Kelly – its so hard outside of our comfort zone, but i pray that as your comfort zone expands that you’ll continue to pull others outside of there too. 🙂
@Becky – girl when the baby comes, sooooo much is out of our control. i think we learn quicker as Mom’s how to let go, as we are always doing so. my oldest turned 21 and i’m still struggling. He is right smack in the middle of God’s will and its still difficult as he is so far away, but i wouldn’t want him any where else at all! Praying for a safe delivery for you.
@Susan thank you – we all have to let things go, all the time. Maybe if I hear it enough and share it enough, it will get easier 🙂
thanks yall for the encouragement you’ve given to me and others
{{HUGS}}
@spreadingJOY
Marie recently posted..Peering Into The Darkness
Marie,
I am known for always smiling. If I am not smiling…beware, lol. When I came across this article, I tweeted my response because I wanted you to instantly know how this message was so on time. I even shared the whole thing via reading it to my mother. I too have my bundle of woes, but you know what, I will not let it tie me down. I will continue to wait on the Lord and still be of good courage. That is what it is all about. If we only spread love and joy when things go our way, we are deceivers and that is no good. From being stabbed, to getting married and divorced in the blink of an eye, to losing my home due to some cruel cheaters the one person that remained faithful and true was the One…God. He visited with me on several occaisions and asked, Do you still want to continue this ministry FULL TIME? As tears fell down my face, I said yes!!! I lost my home and he put me in a hotel with my children for 1 1/2 months. He paid the bill too. Then sent me back home to where i was born and raised to continue the work I had finally decided to do after I let go of trying to configure it my way and everyone else’s way. Then my grandmother took ill, and guess who had the opportunity to help her…me. It looked so blurry. How do you give me a place to stay after being without, then take it away again then send me back to where I moved away from because you said move? But it was in that moment I understood how and why God does this. I lost everything in storage. But I didn’t lose him. I didn’t lose my light. So it is those testimonies and more that I share with others, that I use to encourage myself as I continue to wait on the Lord and be of good courage.
We can do it Marie. I will pray for you and your family. Won’t you join me and pray for me and my family? God said when two or three are gathered there shall he be. Let’s continue to believe together that God will prevail. He will shine through like always. He has not left us nor forsaken us. He will do just what he said, for nothing is impossible with God. No we didn’t misunderstand him. Yes, we really did hear him. But everything is in God’s time, not ours. A day for him is like a thousand years for us. Together we will see the glory of Him as long as we stay faithful to him. Whether if here on earth or in heaven. The one thing we know is if we do right we are bound to enter heaven. His kingdom. We will make it. Let go of all the mess and hold to His hand. God’s unchanging hand.
I love you.
Be encouraged. Be inspired. Be who He created you to be.
Love,
Bella
Wow! What a story you have.
Its often difficult when we are right in the middle of the storm, but your faith has increased tremendously!
He had you depending on Him…and now when any storm comes through, you’ll weather it very well!
Thank you for leaving this here! It adds so much to this article! I know all who read your story will be encouraged to stay strong, take the next step and do so trusting HIM!!
I will join you in prayer. When I wake up in the mornings, there are those that send me messages saying they’ve prayed for me. I feel so cared for when that happens!
I love what you said – “let go of all of the mess and hold on to His hand.”
I’m with you!
@spreadingJOY
Marie, you are truly such a blessing to so many people, one day our Master will say to you ” 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.” Mt 25:23 and you truly show the JOY of Jesus with that which He gave you to manage here on this Earth, and he is allowing you to be a great witness of your Faith. God Bless you and your Family. He is Lord , and will see you through.
In Christian Love,
Mirv
@GMOMirv
Mirv Wondracek recently posted..Facing the Impossible
All I want to hear is well done.
thank you for the encouragement that you always bring!
@spreadingJOY
I sent you a thank you on Twitter for sharing this post yesterday, but I wanted to write and tell you more about how much it blessed and encouraged me.
To begin, I took care of three family members before they went home to Heaven, one after another, for a total of about nine years. My grandmother was the last one, and her homegoing was in August 2010. I live near Beaumont, Texas, so after an unsuccessful job search, I followed God’s leading and went back to school at Lamar University. I have an undergrad degree in Communication that I received in 1996. So, my original plan this time was to take the undergraduate courses that I needed in order to be able to apply for grad school for Speech-Language Pathology. Along the way, God directed me to change my area of study to audiology, and in March of this year, I was accepted to Lamar’s graduate program in Audiology to begin in August of this year.
This is where I get into how your post blessed and encouraged me. As you can imagine, knowing that I’m going to be in grad school has brought a whole host of issues that I need to let go and trust God in. There is tuition, there are the classes and the workload, and there’s even more. There’s a conference that is held once a year in major cities for networking and education in the field. Of course, this requires buying a plane ticket and paying for a hotel room. Then, in the fourth and final year, there is a residency which may require me to live in a completely new city for a year.
I could tell you story after story about how God has given me confirmation that this is what I should be doing. Still, it has been so easy to focus on “how in the world is all of this going to work out?” As I’ve thought about all of it, God has been speaking to me in various ways, including your post, to say “just trust Me and I’ll take care of it.” I know that my part is to show up every day and work hard and leave ALL of the rest to Him!
Thank you once again for your God-inspired post. God Bless You!
I am sorry I posted twice…would you please delete the one with my last name? Thank you.