Let It Go

I’m so sorry, I really had no intention of putting that song into your head. It’s amazing, isn’t it, how three little words can be so powerful!?!

It just seems to be a motto with me lately: Illness invades… let it go. Schedules conflict…let it go. Project is delayed… let it go. I want to hang on, to hold tight, to fight, to control, and God says, Let. It. Go.

I’ve been buried in the book of Genesis lately, in one of my favorite studies, The Patriarchs, by Beth Moore. Written over 10 years ago, but still as timeless and applicable as ever, this study has reminded me once again of how often God calls His people to trust in Him and let it go.

Maybe a better word is, surrender, which means “to agree to stop fighting, hiding, resisting, etc – to give the control or use of something to someone else.”¹

Not an easy thing to do, that’s for sure.

What does it look like? It looks like Abraham leaving his home to go to a place unseen, unknown, simply because God said “Go.” Abraham had to let go of the familiar and follow God’s lead. (Genesis 12)

We see it when Jacob, after working for seven years for his love, Rachel, instead wakes up to find Leah at his side. Though thoroughly deceived, Jacob lets go of his justifiable anger and agrees to work another seven years for his beloved. (Genesis 29)

And my most favorite part of all is when Joseph, though a victim of his brothers’ jealousy and hatred, later lets go – and totally surrenders– his bitterness and fully forgives, seeing God’s divine hand throughout his life. (Genesis 42-45)

Lest these men intimidate you by their faithfulness and willingness to let go, read the accounts yourself. You will find these men of old wrestled to hand over the reins to God and let Him lead. In fact, they often lied and manipulated their way through life only to learn the hard way that to surrender to God is better.

It’s strangely refreshing to know they struggled too, especially as I fight for control.

This Holy Week I am reminded of the most beautiful Scriptural example of surrender.

Isaiah the prophet foretold Jesus’ obedience:

“He was oppressed and afflicted, yet He did not open His mouth. He was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so He did not open His mouth.” (Is.53:7)

Did it begin with His prayer in the Garden? “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from Me. Yet not as I will but as You will.”

No, I think it began when He willingly left His heavenly home to fulfill a long-ago promise (Genesis 3:15). Then we see it again, when 12-year-old Jesus, though longing to be in His Father’s house, submits to His earthy parents, “Then He (Jesus) went down to Nazareth with them (His parents) and was obedient to them.” (Luke 2:51)

All through His life, Jesus, submits to His Father’s will, most beautifully demonstrated in the garden when His aforementioned prayer is accompanied by blood-sweat and tears.

After His heartfelt prayer, he was led away and arrested, He was falsely accused and beaten. But rather than resist, fight back, control, he let go. He surrendered, allowing the plan of redemption to carry on despite the fleshly desire to tighten its grip and hold fast.

He would not cry out, He would not curse, in fact, He forgave. He let the Father’s plan unfold, yielding His whole body, soul, and finally, giving up His spirit.

Sometimes my soul cries out WHY?!? Why would HE, the Son of God, who could call legions of angels to destroy all those who falsely accused, beat and killed Him. Why did He NOT take back control on that Black Friday. Why?

Because He knew if He held on then, He’d lose US forever.

If He refused to let go and submit to the cross, WE would be eternally lost.

For US, He let go.

His obedience to the Father all the way to the cross humbles me, humiliates me and, quite frankly makes me ashamed of what I try to hold on to. Schedules? Projects? – all so insignificant. But even those things that are most precious to me, my loved-ones, are not mine. They are gifts for a time, to be treasured and then released.

Like the Patriarchs, our letting go is a process; a one-step-at-a-time, one-day-at-a-time release of wills, desires, to align with God’s. Like Jacob’s midnight wrestling match, we sometimes fight to the finish, leaving us limping and at other times, surrendering early.

We must remember, each time God calls us to relinquish control it’s because He has our best in mind! He has a better plan than we do. If we could just hear the message behind those three little words, we’d struggle less. When God says, “Let it go” what he’s really sayings is “I love you.”

Three little words. Three little powerful words. Let. It. Go.

Jesus did. Will you? With His help, we can.

If this blog touched your heart, so will this song! (And it will help get the first one out of your head. :))