Holding and Letting Go
Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.
Hebrews 10:23 NIV
Have you ever held on to something for dear life?
A tree limb or a rope? Maybe a relationship or even a dream?
I am a good holder. A really good holder.
I’m not bragging in the next few sentences, but stating my case. I presume myself to fairly patient knowing things have a tendency to sift themselves out. I have an extraordinary amount of faith to always believe that everything is going to work out. I have a positive attitude in most situations to encourage and lift up those who can’t see the silver lining in the rainstorm.
I am a pretty good holder.
I love the verse in Hebrews commanding us to hold tight even when the going gets tough. Hold tight to the One who has everything planned out. Hold tight to the God who says I will never let you fall away from me.
What I’m not good at is letting go.
Letting go of my manmade ropes that have tied and tethered me to a safe location. Letting go and stepping out in the scary darkness when optimism is unseen like the hand in front of my face. Letting go and trusting in the unseen one who securely holds the ropes somewhere from my finite vision.
I’m really bad at letting go.
But faith requires both actions.
It’s like little kids who hold daddy’s hand when they walk. The dad lets them know he’s got them. But he doesn’t have to tell them, they know, because they are being held. His actions show them that there is nothing to fear. His firm grasp around their little hands is proof that they are not alone.
But change the situation to a little kid at a swimming pool and the dad is calling for them to jump into his big, strong arms. Some kids don’t see the big, strong arms. They see they are not held anymore and fear and doubt creeps in.
Do I follow and jump? Or do I run off to mom?
I feel like this is God.
Come on, Eric. Jump. I got you. I’m big enough to catch you. You have a history of memories of me holding you when you were nervous, scared, uptight. And I carried you through all of those times. Come on, Eric. Trust me.
So, I’m going to jump. I may not know where I’m going to land, but I know who’s going to be there waiting. I don’t know when I’m going to be caught, but I know His timing is perfect. I don’t know what the world may say, but I know what He will.
It’s funny, so often with faith we equate following God with success. I hear people say, “God won’t lead you astray.”
But he led the Israelites in the wilderness for 40 years.
Others will say, “God will provide.”
But the Israelites complained about their daily provision.
Still others will paint a rosy picture of a perfect life.
But no where in the Bible does it say following Christ will lead to a perfect life without stress, problems, concerns, cancer, death, financial ruin.
But what it always guarantees is you won’t be alone.
Your friends may think you’re crazy and leave you. But I won’t be alone?
Your family may disown you. But I won’t be alone?
Your safety net may vanish. But I won’t be alone?
Your professional reputation may tarnish. But I won’t be alone?
Your clients and customers may call you a laughing stock. But I won’t be alone?
Your readers may post bad reviews. But I won’t be alone?
I may be physically alone. But I won’t be alone?
God never guarantees success in following as the world defines it. But His definition may be a little better.
Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done.
Matthew 16:24-27 NIV
I often say that obedience to God should be its own reward in following a God who is beckoning you to walk beside him when He could choose any other person to journey beside. And at the end of my time, shouldn’t that be the best reward?
That the God of this universe knows my name.
That the God who causes flowers to bloom is calling me to sprout where I have been planted.
That the God who knows the number of galaxies he breathed out also knows the number of hairs on my aging head.
Yes. How can I not jump into the arms of a God who is begging me to trust him and rest in His arms and partake in a journey that I couldn’t even have dreamed.
So, it’s about time. I’m getting my holding hands ready to let go and see what is in store.
Maybe it’s time for you to let go and fall into the arms who will always catch you.
We all have a dream. We all have a purpose. It’s about time to use your dream to fulfill your purpose.
Peace
If you need to jump, check out my book Dream Chasers. I hope it causes you to see God has an incredible dream for you. Here is the link for you to check it out.
Dream Chasers: A Journey of Faith
