Let Go and Let God

It is amazing to me, in such a short amount of time, how people in our nation are swinging to the other end of the pendulum where kindness and being courteous are non-existent.  It seems like fewer and fewer people care about the needs of others like they once did.  They don’t want to get involved, because of their busy lifestyle at home. 

People are in their own little world of happenings.  As long as they have a cell phone or computer to play games and send text messages they are just fine.  They wouldn’t think of asking for help, because that would obligate them to return the favor.  The fewer the obligations the better they feel regarding helping someone. 

A particular, common practice in the 18^th and 19^th century in rural North America was 'barn-raising'.  This term describes a collective action by the members of a community to help build or rebuild a barn for a member of that community.  Neighbors and friends addressed the need by enlisting other members of their community, unpaid, to assist in building the barn.  The favor would eventually return to each participant.

People were not embarrassed or afraid to let go of their arrogant pride and ask for help; allowing others to see their vulnerability.  As I see it, this giving and receiving character in people is changing from what America was built upon—the statutes of God and close-bond camaraderie with neighbors.

Past generations were more God conscious and involved Him in sensitive areas of life more so than people of today.  “Who needs God?” is the general consensus and intellect of communities throughout the nation. Some Christians are timid to speak up for what they believe is right, because of the backlash received from non-Believers around them. 

It is easier to shut up than to let go of fear and let God work in and through their efforts to create change.  This way of thinking must cease if Christians truly desire a godly nation to continue; maintaining Christian values in America.

Christians must guard against the temptation of getting caught up in self-sufficiency, while rubbing shoulders with a society that is hell-bent on doing their own thing without regard for God or the 10 Commandments.

To let go and let God involve Himself in one’s life is easier said than done for those that consider themselves independent and self-sufficient.  They do not feel the need to solicit anyone’s help, especially God, in order to make ends meet or help them with the rearing of offspring; teaching them the value of godly principles and becoming dependable, honorable people of society.

Do you remember the ill-advised saying?  “Do as I say not as I do.”  Children learn by example.  What they see and hear they emulate.  This practice is everywhere you look.  A let go and let God standard of living is taught with the help of God Almighty; it is not learned in this world of changing values and self-centered thinking.

Independence, without God, quickly evolves into a prideful individual; a self-imposed, self-doer that refuses God’s interference.  They don’t want it, because the thought of letting God do anything and being obligated to Him goes against the grain of their “I can do it myself!” mentality.  This is a very bad way to live, and unwise to say the least.

Consider for a moment the title of this writing.  I believe it to be self-explanatory and understandable without a lot of words following.  But to put it into prospective, the first two words, “Let God” imply a giving up or opening the hand to release one’s grip on something.  By doing so, this gesture can be interpreted, by some, as being vulnerable.

To permit access to areas that have perhaps been protected up to that point is a fearful thing.  It is misconstrued as surrendering and giving up.  It is scarier to let go of something that has been carried for so long than to allow God to move as He sees fit in certain situations. 

The close proximity of children or parents that are not serving God are two examples of wanting to hold on and not let go for fear that God might knock the props out from under them, because God is seen as a disciplinarian rather than the loving, compassionate, and merciful God that He is.  These people are frequently called enablers.

Enablers are often faced with difficult challenges, because of their great concern for certain individuals.  These ordeals can become paramount to those that lack proper training on how to deal with matters of personality traits, including a host of other disorders. 

Enablers feel that no one else can do or react to the circumstances that surround them like they themselves can, and are most reluctant to hand over to another party their self-appointed responsibility of trying to work out all situations.  To let go and let God is not in their vocabulary, because they fear what God might do.

In actuality, an enabler sometimes keeps those that they care for in a dependent state of reliability—unable to do for themselves, because they are so accustom to things being done for them that self-dignity and self-respect slowly erode away.  Certainly, there are extenuating circumstances that enter into this scenario; like disabilities and birth defects, of which the above thoughts may not apply.

To let go and lay a problem at the feet of Jesus and trust Him with what they could not do can be intimidating; leaving the enabler with feelings of unsuccessful intervention, while being bombarded with the question, “Why do things have to be the way they are?”  But God’s grace is sufficient in all things if we let go and let God help us.

Unlike enablers, self-doers are generally puffed up in themselves, because of their prideful nature, but enablers and self-doers have a common denominator—ongoing frustration.  They are on common ground; void of lasting peace, hope, and in some cases, lacking stability. 

Personal obsessions, coupled with pride, limit a person to the height they can achieve regarding accomplishments.  I call this ascent, ‘the ladder of self-reliance’.  It does not reach to the level of success that they desire, because there is a lack; void of God’s help and strength.  It is only tall enough to reach as high as the glass ceiling of ‘want’ and no higher.

Self-sufficiency without God is like running in place and going nowhere.  It is taking one step forward and two steps back.  It is like a car's transmission that is stuck in reverse; having no forward motion. 

To not let go and not let God work, amounts to a complete standstill when lasting peace and complete satisfaction are at stake, which are common denominators that are missing.  Letting God do the impossible is the only way to realize success in all areas of life.

No one within their own strength or ingenuity can accomplish any visionary scheme for an ideally perfect endeavor no matter how hard they try.  At times it may seem that it is going to happen, because of an inner-drive-methodology at work; thinking they can achieve it, but reality soon reveals the unwanted truth that it just won’t take place without supernatural intervention.

To let go and let God have His way instead of insisting on having our own way requires faith, which is the ability of a person to trust the honesty of God.  Jesus declares in the Bible that He is the only way to success; the truth we can count on in times of need; and the life, which is abundant living—experiencing lasting satisfaction.

(John 14:6), “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through Me.’ ”

Satan tries to blind our eyes from truth and makes it difficult for a self-sufficient person to let go and let God, especially if they have an abundance of money to buy any material thing they want.  It is sad when they love money so much that it becomes their god, which is the route of all evil.

(1 Timothy 6:10), “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.”

Self-sufficient people that ignore God are self-destructive in many ways when they attempt to blaze their own trail without God.  Their philosophy is, “If I can’t do it, it can’t be done.”  This was my attitude before I met the Lord.

After trying with all that was in me to achieve lasting happiness, I came to the bitter conclusion that no matter how hard I tried I couldn’t do it.  I finally let go and let God accomplish what I could not.  He did the impossible for me.

God loved humanity so much that He gave His only Son, Jesus, to die on the cross for our sins.  He wants to do similar miracles for each person like He did for me.  All it takes is to let go and let God.  He forgives sin and provides hope of eternal life in heaven, while giving peace that passes all understanding, because Jesus is the Prince of Peace.

Written by,

Papa Boyd