You're Not Too LateSample

THE JOY OF LETTING GO

Our minds wander in a hurry, don’t they? We can so easily fixate on a future reality and put a plan in place to make it happen. Maybe it’s a job promotion or a college degree. Maybe it’s a spouse or a child or a home. Whatever desire you’re chasing, it can easily become an idol when you worship the idea of your hoped-for outcome.

I’m not saying it’s wrong to dream. It’s perfectly normal to feel excitement about what God might do in a particular situation. But when our hearts become fixated more on our earthly desires than on worshipping God, we have tread into dangerous waters.

The world tells us: What I long for will satisfy me more fully than God.

God tells us: True satisfaction and contentment will only be found as I surrender my plans to God.

When we equate God’s perceived goodness with our circumstances, we may find ourselves disappointed. But when we trust that he is MORE than enough for us in ANY circumstance, we can surrender and allow him to work in our hearts (2 Corinthians 3:5).

Jesus modeled for us what it looks like to lay aside our own desires to pursue God’s bigger plan. He made this clear in Luke 9 when he explained that to be his disciples, we must deny ourselves, take up our crosses, and follow him daily.

Anything more than God is a lie. Anything less than God will leave our hearts begging for more.

We don’t need stronger arms to pick things up and proudly hold our idols up before Jesus’ gaze so we ensure he sees exactly how we hope he works next. We need a posture of humility to lay things down at his feet. Our fingers will ache at times from the tight grip we held, but there is such freedom and renewed joy on the other side of letting go.

God, what are you calling me to release to you today? I long to seek you alone for contentment, hope, and lasting joy. In this place of longing and waiting, I lift my weary heart to you. Remind me that you alone are my satisfaction and my peace. When I am tempted to believe that life has passed me by or that my desires have gone unnoticed, help me to trust in your perfect timing and plan. Amen.

This plan is presented to you by You’re Not Too Late by Rebecca George, an Esther Press resource. To learn more about this book, please click here.