Every Journey Begins With a StepSample

Let go to grab ahold.

Culture tells us to live the “American Dream” by climbing the corporate ladder, growing a family, and enjoying life. We’re told to “follow our hearts,” hold to “our truth,” and we’re even led to believe that temporal pleasures bring happiness.

It’s a lie. Let go of everything else you put your trust in so that you can grab more tightly to Him. Nothing in this world can satisfy like a relationship with your Creator.

When God told Abraham to sacrifice Isaac, it didn’t make sense. Isaac was the fulfillment of God’s promise. So why would God want to take it away?

Because we get to read the whole story, we know this was a test. God wanted Abraham to trust in Him alone and love Him first. We can see that Abraham passed the test and went on their way. But it doesn’t feel so easy when we’re in the middle of the test. Whatever we hold to tightly – our businesses, our titles, our finances, even our families – may be the very thing God wants us to surrender to Him so that our trust is in Him alone. Even good things can be a distraction to our faith.

Think of what’s most precious to you. If you lost it today, would you still serve God? Are there areas of your life that are off-limits to Him? For example, when I was first starting out in business, I was proud of my work and profits. I took satisfaction in a job well done and providing for my family. But God showed me, through a series of hard circumstances, how all I had was really His. I didn’t earn anything on my own! All I have is because of His love for me. Any talents, abilities, relationships, and the good things that come from them are all because of Him. We must never forget that He is the source of all good things.

Abraham was willing to obey God, even while praying and trusting that God would provide another way. In Genesis 22:5, Abraham says, “The boy and I will travel a little farther. We will worship there, and then we will come right back.” He believed God would spare his son. And God did just that.

What might God want to you surrender to Him?