Let Go and Let God

"And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance." Hebrews 9:15

An individual struggling with the potential outcome of a life change said, "I used to think that the phrase “Let go and let God” was about turning my troubles over to Him, and He would take care of things. The saying bothered me because there were many times I tried to pass Him the baton, and it fell with a clunk on the ground. I’ve finally begun to understand that the phrase means something different. “Let go [of the outcome you desire], and let God [manifest His will].”The Lord already knows what I desire. So my prayer today goes more like this: “Whatever happens, Lord, is what happens. If it’s Your will for this ... plan to succeed, I will be thankful. I am very tired and I really, really, really don’t want more pain. But if it all falls apart again, I will love You. And I trust I can still serve You as we figure out Plan B.” For a moment there I was hoping this person would realize that the phrase "Let go and let God," is not only not found in the Bible, but it is indirectly holding God accountable for the outcome of their situation. The phrase "Let go and let God," in my opinion, is a sort of one size fits all phrase Christians throw around when they are trying to comfort themselves or others. They would be better off saying, "I have no idea why this is happening or what the outcome is, but maybe I can trust that I learn something about my faith and my God in the midst of it." Often, the limit of our faith ends at the physical. We tend to look solely at our circumstances as some sort of measuring stick of our faith, or lack thereof, or God's love for us. This is indicated when the person talks about how they used to believe God would "take care of things" (make things work out in their favor), but soon questioned their belief when the baton "fell with a clunk on the ground." But, then they effectively make the statement out to mean that if they don't get their desired outcome, then, whatever happens, must be God's will. Isn't that convenient; if I don't get what I desire, it's on God. The saddest part, however, may be their conclusion.  They say, "But if it all falls apart again, I will love You. And I trust I can still serve You." It is like they are telling God, "If I don't get what I want  and end up suffering again, I will try to find a way to keep loving you and be used by you." So, God is getting guilt-tripped into giving them their way, it seems. It's like when my nephew once told me, "You don't love me," because I couldn't play with him at the time. It was like all the other times I played with him never happened and my love for him hinged on him getting his desired outcome now. I wonder if God feels that way when this person prays. Nevermind everything He has done for them in the past if He doesn't deliver this time then their love for Him will have to be renewed. Not once does it seem this person stopped to consider that decisions have consequences and we are oftentimes held accountable for what we do in life. God allows the outcomes to happen and may intervene on occasion, but regardless of what happens, He is with us as we go through them.

When it comes to God's will for our lives we often define it as being what God's desired outcomes are for our daily lives. In other words, we want God to decide every detail of our lives from where we work, what clothes we wear, to whom we marry, to where we live, to what we eat for dinner and everything in between. We tend to live in a mild sense of fear and anxiety, worried that we will make a decision "outside His will" and bring calamity into our lives from Him as a way to "discipline" us for our "lack of faith" or some "hidden" sin in our lives, etc. Granted, God has done these sorts of things for people and will continue to do so. However, He is not obligated to do it for everybody, nor has He promised He would do it at all for anybody. What He has promised for everybody who has accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior is what we have received as an inheritance of our faith. We have been delivered from darkness to light (Acts 26:18). We are joint heirs with Christ (Romans 8:17). We have citizenship in heaven (Philippians 3:20). We are clothed with Christ (Galatians 3:27). We are hidden in Christ (Colossians 3:3-4). We are holy (Hebrews 10:10). We are blameless (Ephesians 1:4). We are pure (1 John 1:7). We are set apart from sinners (1 Corinthians 6:11). We have been exalted above the Heavens (Ephesians 2:6). We have been made perfect forever (Hebrews 10:14). He will never leave us or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5). Nothing can separate us from His love (Romans 8:39). And much more. It is knowing our identity in Christ, God's will for us that we have inherited because of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, that focuses us on His love for us and grows our love for Him. It is something that is not contingent on the outcomes of life. It is what keeps us thankful during the ups and downs of life. It is what keeps our eyes on Him and helps us to live above our circumstances not under them. Therefore, if you want to use the phrase, "Let go and let God," to get you through a tough time, use it to focus you back on the truth of who you are in Christ, God's promised faithfulness to you because of your inheritance and not on the uncertainty and fear of random future outcomes working out in your favor. Let go of believing the outcomes of life are a reflection of God's will for you. Let go of holding God accountable for those outcomes. Let go of believing "Plan A" is your desired outcome and "Plan B" is God giving you lemons and expecting you to make lemonade. Rather, let God remind you of who you are in Christ. Let God's faithfulness through past life events comfort you and give you peace during your present circumstances. As Christians, God's will isn't that we "hope" things go our way and then try to make sense of them and our relationship with Him when they do not. As Christians, God's will is that we rest in and depend on Him and all He has given us through our faith in Jesus Christ and allow it to serve as a solid foundation as we face life together with Him.