Infinitum 30 Day Challenge - Week TwoSample

Letting Go

If you’ve grown up in Christian tradition you might have heard the idea or even adhere to the idea that if only we did more, or tried harder then our relationship with God would be better. That isn’t the case though! When it comes to a relationship with God there is no trying harder, there’s a letting go. There is a willingness to open up our lives and surrender ourselves to the purpose of God. 

This takes a level of discernment. How do we know the difference between when you’re surrendering and when you’re just giving up? Surrender is both complicated and simple. There are two helpful practices or postures that are always being put into use. We’ll go through the first one today. 

The first posture is letting go. Corrie Ten Boom is quoted saying, “hold everything in your hands lightly, otherwise, it hurts when God pries your fingers open.” The things we need to let go of are things that are holding us backing from doing what God has asked us to do. 

Have you ever tried water skiing? When you’re in an uncomfortable spot and you're too deep into the water, you’re getting dragged by the boat but you aren’t nicely skimming on the water then that’s when you need to let go. Surrendering is like this. Gripping tight can feel like the right thing, you’re still attached to the boat but if you keep going this way you run the risk of drawing. The same goes for other areas in your life. What you need to surrender may not look like a terrible thing but it’s keeping you from letting go and surrendering to God. 

In the story of Jesus walking on water, Jesus invites Peter to join Him. As Peter decides to step out onto the water he is letting go of what he thinks will keep him safe (the boat and the company of his friends) to go towards Jesus. He’s letting go of familiarity, of safety. God invites us into the area of the unknown.  

• Where are you getting your success from? 
• What are you holding onto that is dragging you?