Do you ever get to a point in your life, in any area, where despite best efforts things just aren’t going according to plan. It feels like the harder you try, the slower things come together.
I’ve felt that way plenty before. I feel like there is such a fine line between giving something your all and trying too hard. Where is this line and how can we save ourselves the frustration of trying to force something?
Perhaps this is the moment to let go and let God. And by that I don’t mean give up, but rather release it to God.
Release It
I have no way of knowing what you are dealing with. Yet it can amaze me how we all have similar struggles. All while feeling like we’re the only ones that struggle. Do you know what I mean? So maybe this will be a bit like saying the quiet part out loud. When you’re deep in the midst of whatever is consuming you and you feel like try as you might you can’t make progress, let go and let God.
What does this look like? It is actually really fascinating! Let me walk you through my version of it from my perspective. Years ago, I had an online shipping supply business. Things were very busy and it was difficult to find the time to try to grow the business around real life, grocery shopping, laundry, other responsibilities, etc. It used to be a bit of a frustration to me.
But then one day I released that frustration. I surrendered it to God and asked Him to direct that business as only He could. I would do my best to show up for the responsibilities directly in front of me. And I was attentive not to waste my time. (this was before the days of doom scrolling, but believe me, there have always been unbelievable opportunities to rob you of your time)
And do you know what I noticed? The more wholeheartedly I showed up for my people and the responsibilities right in front of me, the more business and sales I had. From no sales expertise or strategy of my own, except for serving God better where He had me. But it only came once I released the struggle. So interesting, and a lesson I remember again and again!
Let Go and Let God
Another fascinating story I want to share is the story of Twig, the boutique we have in downtown Walterboro. I know I have shared it before, but it is such an amazing example of how God blesses us when we surrender to Him!
Years ago, early in the year I had been looking for a building to have a retail shop. Nothing huge, just somewhere to sell my clothes that I sold online. I had sold a fair amount of items online by this point. But I had never worked in retail so this was a leap of faith. I visited available buildings and looked into lease agreements. These were all firsts for me and even back in 2018, the price of leases were far higher than I anticipated.
I looked and I prayed, I prayed and I looked. I asked around and checked into possibilities, and yet the days marched by. Then one random day on the way home from a sales event, I got a call from a lady who already had a boutique set up, but needed clothing to go in it. Somebody recommended me to her, so she had called. I was elated (though I tried to act calm and business-like)! We made plans to meet, agreed on the details of our arrangement, and within a few weeks my clothing was in a shop!
Faithful, Not Frantic
Truth be told, I don’t recall any revolutionary moment through the process of moving my clothing into Twig when I just let it go and backed away from the effort of knocking on doors to see where God was leading. Rather I would say I did my best to remain faithful, not frantic.
And I would say that’s a key part of learning to let go and let God. It’s not that you let go of the dream exactly, but rather let go of the narrative of how God will bring it together. But it’s crucial that you stay in faith, confident that God gave you the dream for a reason. Too many times I get the impression that we think if it doesn’t come together in our expected timeline, then it is not meant to be.
But I truly don’t think that’s the case. When in the history of man has God and man had the same timeline? Rarely, I would say. And I think the purpose of that is to grow our faith and to grow our patience. We are to rely on God, after all. And if everything always – or even frequently – came together in our timeline, we wouldn’t need to practice that faith, would we?!
So please hear me clearly: what you are letting go of is the control of the situation, not the actual dream. By all means, if God moves you that the dream is not what He has for you, release it. But I truly think the majority of the time, it is rather the how, not the what that we grasp too tightly.
Freedom In The Lord
Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty [emancipation from bondage, true freedom]. – 2 Corinthians 3:17
I love this verse! And it so perfectly fits what I’m trying to share with you today. Emancipation from bondage makes me think of slaves, and when I think of slaves I think of the children of Israel in Egypt. They had a slave mentality. I believe I have shared it before, but remember when they had to go from making bricks to also gathering their own straw to make the bricks? Their complaint was having to gather that additional straw, not being slaves when God made them to be leaders.
How often do I myself, and I would argue each of us, struggle with a slave mentality? Our complaint is rather trivial when compared to the big picture – much like the Israelites – and the truth is we are made for so much more! What if we let go of what kept us small and let God’s purpose and prompting take us so much further than we can go on our own? Have you considered your mindset might be what’s keeping you where you are? The bottleneck in your own life, so to speak?
Can you even imagine true freedom to step into who God has created you to be? Do you have the courage to let go of what is, to step into where God is leading? Let go and let God isn’t just some cute phrase, it truly has the potential to take your life to the next level!
Starting today, even right now, ask God boldly for direction in every single area of your life. Remember the dangerous prayer I shared earlier? Muster the courage to pray it! Nothing changes if nothing changes.
I would especially encourage you to pray specifically over any sensitive subjects in your life. If I have learned anything, it is that these areas are sensitive because they really need God’s help and direction. Invite God into them, release the how to Him, and praise and thank Him for the direction and wisdom He is bringing to the situation. He cares so much about each of His people, and I am convinced that He wants our attention. Draw closer to Him today and expect to see revolutionary things happen in your life!
Until Next Time!
Hope.