Hold Loosely: Let Go, Let God

Before I begin, I feel I need to give you a little real-life insight: I'm 4-months in of the last year having my daughter living at home, as she will be moving 5hrs away to attend a University in the Fall of 2025. As a mama, I've given a lot of effort in trusting God in directing her steps for her life and future in Him. In July my father was diagnosed with cancer, in October my daughter was upgraded from 'girlfriend' to 'fiancée', and in November my father-in-law also received a cancer diagnoses. (Praise the Lord, both have been treatable/removable, but NO-ONE likes to hear "the C-word"). Along with everything seeming to be shifting so rapidly in the last quarter of 2024, my company's growth also has seemed to have come to a slow crawl. It's been a trying time, however, my soul is not 'downcast', my husband and I continue trusting HIM in all things (Psalm 42:11) with a loud and resounding "Come what may, THY WILL BE DONE."

[Why are you cast down, O my inner self? And why should you moan over me and be disquieted within me? Hope in God and wait expectantly for Him, for I shall yet praise Him, Who is the help of my countenance, and my God. Psalm 42:11]

I recently read of the exchange between Corrie Ten Boom and Pastor Chuck Swindol -

"Shortly before her death, Corrie ten Boom attended our church in Southern California. Following the worship service, I met briefly with her, anxious to express my wife's and my love and respect for her faithful example. She inquired about my family . . . how many children, their ages—that sort of thing. She detected my great love for each one and very tenderly admonished me to be careful not to hold on to them too tightly. Cupping her wrinkled hands in front of me, she passed on a statement of advice I'll never forget. I can still recall that strong Dutch accent: "Pastor Svendahl, you must learn to hold everyting loosely . . . everyting. Even your dear family. Why? Because da Fater may vish to take vun of tem back to Himself, und ven He does, it vill hurt you if He must pry your fingers loose." And then, having tightened her hands together while saying all that, she slowly opened them and smiled so kindly as she added, "Vemember . . . hold everyting loosely. . . everyting." In the back of my mind I can still hear her words." [1]

As I read, my heart quickened. My eyes brimmed with tears, my throat stung as I choked back the urge to ugly-cry. This spoke to me on so many 'levels'. My mind went reeling, and I'd like to walk you through my thoughts that swirled through my mind and settled in my spirit. In the matter of moments, I thought of (1) my loved ones facing the 'unknowns' (both new phases with the many unknowns in life, and sickness with surgery and treatments), (2) the many other loved ones that has passed on and how painful the repeated "see you later" has been, (3) the prodigals I have been diligently praying for and the least of them all, (4) the worry of my company failing and the unknown for the future. I thought of all I want to hold on to tightly, because like a child grabbing as many toys as I can hold in my arms, simply do not want to endure the uncomfortable unknown changes or ultimately, loss.

 Let us seize and hold tightly the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is reliable and trustworthy and faithful [to His word]; and let us consider [thoughtfully] how we may encourage one another to love and to do good deeds, not forsaking our meeting together [as believers for worship and instruction], as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more [faithfully] as you see the day [of Christ’s return] approaching. Hebrews 10:23-25

God gently reminded me - firstly, we are stewards not owners. Specifically, as parents, we are only stewards of the beautiful souls God has entrusted us to raise in His ways. My heart is overjoyed to be gaining another son as we plan and anticipate our daughter's wedding. Who am I to hold my children so close I inhibit their growth into the places and calling God has preordained for them? In regard to possessions, 'my' house, 'my' truck, 'my' company... it all belongs to the Lord. None of it would be possible without Him. I want to be a good steward of all God has blessed my life with.

Secondly, I must relinquish control. My 'control' isn't as far-reaching as HIS. As a daughter, and daughter-in-law, I hate for my parents or my husbands' parents to endure hardship, especially health issues that I can't "help" with or change. On my knees in prayer, I know I must relinquish control and let God be God. I can't control life, but I can control how I respond to what happens in this life.

"Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom." - Stephen Covey [2]

I can control my attitude and spirit - and I can continue to lay myself, my will, my desires at the feet of Jesus. I can continue to bring my every care and concern to the feet of my creator. We say "Let go, Let God", but when we face moments where He's asking us to let go, do we? Each morning, I want to climb in His arms, and place each of my loved ones in His hands. I want to place each prodigal I pray for in the arms of our God. I lay myself at His feet and place my future and whole being in His hands.

"I have held many things in my hands, but whatever I have placed in God's hands, that, I still possess." - Corrie Ten Boom

Job endured great wealth (health, finance, and family), immense loss, and finally, much increase. He declared His trust was in the Lord, and proclaimed "the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord." (Job 1:21) I will declare, in all things, "Blessed be the name of the Lord!"

"Then Jesus said to His disciples, If anyone desires to be My disciple, let him deny himself [disregard, lose sight of, and forget himself and his own interests] and take up his cross and follow Me [cleave steadfastly to Me, conform wholly to My example in living and, if need be, in dying, also]. For whoever is bent on saving his [temporal] life [his comfort and security here] shall lose it [eternal life]; and whoever loses his life [his comfort and security here] for My sake shall find it [life everlasting]. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his life [his blessed life in the kingdom of God]? Or what would a man give as an exchange for his [blessed] life [in the kingdom of God]?" - Matthew 16:24-26

More than anything, I want to be a disciple of the Lord. As far as my company/livelihood goes, I do not want to be bent on saving my comfort or security here, I lay it all before His feet and trust my future in His hands. This world is not my home - I'm just a'passing through.

In all things, I am determined that I am going to Hold Loosely - and when I need to Let go, and LET God, I will do so with all that I am. How do we "let" God? By not preventing Him. We remove ourselves and our desires, our wants, our demands. We deny ourselves, forgetting our own desires and conform to His example. To Let is defined as "Not prevent or forbid; Allow. To allow something to happen or someone to do something by not doing anything to stop an action or by giving your permission." My loved ones lives. The lives of the Prodigals I cover in prayer. I hold them all loosely, and I give Him full control to operate as He sees fit - (without me throwing a fit! And let's be real... HE doesn't NEED my permission to operate in other peoples lives, but it sure makes it easier on me when I don't try telling God how to handle or not handle His other children!)

I give God permission to be Lord of my life. I give Him full control to write things into and out of my life.

The Lord God Almighty, Creator of the Universe holds my life (and the lives of my loved ones) in His hands... and because He is no respector of persons, He is holding You and Yours, too!

Footnotes:

1. Pastor Chuck Swindoll, Hold Everything Loosely, INSIGHT FOR LIVING (April 11, 2013) http://www.preaching.com/sermons/11565500 (accessed Dec. 11, 2024).

2. Covey, Stephen. (2017). Foreword. In Alex Pattakos, Ph.D., Prisoners of Our Thoughts. (Second ed.,pp. VI). Berret-Koehler Publishers.