Posted by My son just turned nine months old and has been pulling himself up on every surface he can find. He likes to walk around furniture while holding on. The real test comes when he wants to go somewhere else that is just out of his small reach (i.e., the coffee table to the couch). Because he cannot stand on his own, he needs help navigating just those few small steps. I will often put out my hand to help him, but there is usually a hesitation to let go and take my hand. There is still that small fear that he could fall.
As I have noticed this unfold, I can sense God prompting me to let go of some things in my life. When my son takes my hand to move from one location to the next, he is putting all his trust in me. He knows that as his mom, I will do my best to not let him fall. God wants us to do the same with Him. Sometimes we must let go of whatever we cling to so tightly to move to where He wants us next. This involves trust that He will be there every step of the way.
Over the years I have seen many people struggle and live in emotional pain because they are holding on to something that must be let go of to bring change and healing. It might be a relationship that didn’t work out, childhood or family issues, regret for decisions made or expectations. Of course, letting go isn’t always so simple. There are certainly issues or areas in a person’s life which must be worked through (i.e., abuse, anger, etc.) in therapy to be able to move forward. But I have often found that even with therapy, many people simply hold tight out of fear.
Fear can be debilitating. It can keep us trapped and unable to live life. The result of fear may also be due to lack of trust. Many people have had trust broken, thus letting go and trusting is challenging and scary. While this fear is valid, it can keep us from all the good waiting on the other side. Broken trust is not easy to recover from, but it is possible. Building trust takes time and in small increments. With a heart that is willing and guidance from a trusted therapist, learning to trust can begin to take place, which can then allow for letting go of the old/past and moving toward a new future full of possibilities.
In Isaiah 43:18-19, it says, “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” This is a reminder that God has good on the other side of our pain, fear, and pasts if we will only let go and trust. It may seem like you are walking through a desert, but if you let go and take God’s hand, He will make a way when there seems to be no way out.
“Getting over a painful experience is much like crossing monkey bars. You have to let go at some point in order to move forward.” – C.S. Lewis
“The more we let God take us over, the more truly ourselves we become – because He made us.” -C.S. Lewis
“Letting go doesn’t mean that you don’t care about someone anymore. It’s just realizing that the only person you really have control over is yourself.” – Deborah Reber
*Quotes from http://www.biblereasons.com
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