Whether it was in a tug of war event or flying a kite, maybe even in a DIY project as you tried to force something together in frustration, I'm sure that we've all done it. If you've ever been there, you also know the relief that is felt as you relinquish your grip and massage the cramp out. You breathe a sigh of relief as the muscles loosens and the pain fades away.
I think that we do this more often than we think. Not in a physical sense necessarily, but we cling to the good in our lives, terrified to relinquish our grip on the known and face the terror of the unknown. We cling so tightly to the good that God has given us that we don't even realize that our hearts are hurting. We hurt because we've stopped listening to God and we are missing the better that he is offering. I do this. All the time. I look back now and my heart aches at the things that God was trying to bless me with if I'd only relinquished every part of my life to him. I ignored him and held onto to the life that I wanted. I caused myself so much hurt that way. Those things that God was asking me to give up still left my life in one way or another, but it hurt more because they were pried out of my fingers instead of me letting go. Now, I'm not saying that God doesn't give us good things, because He does. I'm also not saying that He takes away all the good things in our lives, because He doesn't. I'm saying that the things I thought were good, were causing me harm and the good God was trying to show me was scary and it meant I had to give him complete control. Instead of trusting, I took a strong hold and white-knuckled the life that I wanted and had planned out in my head.
Proverbs 19:21 "Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand." This is the verse that God has used to speak so much truth into my heart and life lately. I have so many plans and ideas for my life, things I want so badly to happen. Things that range from career goals to wanting to get married. (I also have a tendency to want to rush towards these things and I'm learning to be patient, but that's a longer discussion for another time.) God has been teaching me that He has great and unique plans just for me and He wants me to seek Him in all the desires and longings of my heart. He wants me to make sure that my plans are in line with His will and plans for my life and not try and force His will to fit my plans. He knows what's best for me and has proven that time and time again. Yet still, I will start to hold on tightly to my not so perfect plans and cause my soul to grow weary as I tried to do things in my strength and not allow God to sustain me.
I think we could all use a little more of this in our lives. We often find our souls weary and hearts hurting because of things we've held onto so tightly. "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD." (Isaiah 55:8) Let go. Let God heal the hurts in your heart and soothe you with His perfect will.
We are so dearly and deeply loved by someone who gave His life for us. We are died for. It's a radical love that should lead us to a point of complete surrender. We won't ever experience a love like this anywhere else. If Jesus loved us enough to die for us, He's not going to hurt us. He sees the bigger picture and He knows exactly what we need. Release the grip that your heart has on everything. Release and watch the ache fade away and peace that passes all understanding will settle into your soul. You will be more joyful, less stressed and aware of the deep love the Father has for you.
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