Letting Go

I suppose every healthy child in the world has played the game. They stand on the edge of the bed or bench or swimming pool and leap into the arms of their mom or dad. They leap because they trust. Or you see them at the playground. Stuck high on a climbing apparatus, the parent encourages the child, 

“Let go, so I can catch you.”  

Obviously, to be caught by someone else, we must first let go. That is a very hard thing to do for some people. Even if we’re in a terrible relationship, it’s easier to stay stuck in old behaviours because, well, it’s familiar. More familiar than relaxing in the arms of Creator God. Even if we know that we’ve become dependent on possessions or looks, or careers and power or mood altering chemicals, it easier to continue in sickness than to move toward health. All these self-destructive things we know. They’re familiar. Even as they strip us of confidence, our grip on them tightens. The more destructive they become, the tighter the grip.

Jesus says, “Come to Me and I will give you rest for your soul.”

Our dependencies call out to us, “Stay with me. Don’t let go. You know me. You can trust me. I’m familiar.”

I’ve worked with thousands of people who have defended holding onto the very lifestyles that are destroying them and their relationships. The fear of changing their world-view is just too great. So we keep on repeating the same old ineffective behaviours over and over again. Yet it is only in letting go that we will receive what God has to offer. Trying to ensure that we never be hurt again only ensures that we will be hurt more.

Jesus’ disciples let go of economic security and familial security and received the fulfilment of the desires of their heart. What our heart desires the most is a healed and forgiven and intimate relationship with Jesus. Jesus Himself let go of His rights as our Creator and became our servant instead. All for the joy of glorifying Father God.

This leads us to the paradoxes of Christianity:

We win through losing

We gain by giving away

We live by dying-to-self

We humble ourselves and are exalted by God

We are no fool to give up what we cannot keep in order to gain what we cannot lose.

Letting go is gaining and we can only gain when we first let go.