Let It Go!

Let It Go       

“Teach me to do your will, for you are my God.” Ps 143:10 NIV

My granddaughter Allyson is an energetic five year old who loves the movie “Frozen”, and especially loves to sing at the “top of her lungs” the movie’s theme song, “Let It Go.” When the movie was first released Allyson sang that song, to the dismay of her parents, again and again and again. She is also the typical five year old, who wants what she wants, when she wants it. When we just couldn’t seem to hit “the replay button” fast enough to suit her, she would bellow “Let it Go”  over and over without the music with a joy and enthusiasm that made us all smile. Let’s just say patience is not a favorite word to a five year old. In fact I believe I’m correct in saying “patience” is not a popular word at any age. When God promises us something and it doesn’t seem to happen in our time frame, it’s so easy to get impatient and start doubting Him right away. Eager to make it happen, we start to take matters into our own hands and can unknowingly detour the plan and even make quite a mess of that plan like Abraham did. God promised Abraham children “as numerous as the stars” (Genesis 22:17 NIV). Tired of waiting He took matters into His on hands and had a child, Ishmael, by his maid servant, Hagar. That’s when Abraham’s troubles really began!  Rivalry between the two wives set off a spiral of events that eventually led to the “letting go” of his son Ishmael. Hagar and her son were literally sent away from their home and forced to fend for themselves. God loved Ishmael and had great plans for him, but Abraham had to “let go” of him in order to fulfill God’s will. It was one of the most painful experiences of Abraham’s life.

So what do we learn from Abraham’s story? First of all, emphatically refuse to allow the Enemy to send anything into your life that will undermine your plans while you are waiting and praying. Secondly, be careful of the advice you receive, even if it is from someone close to you. Fathering Ishmael was advised by Abraham’s wife Sarah. When God speaks directly to you, listen and obey His will above all others. Thirdly, because you are willing to take responsibility for your actions doesn’t mean there won’t be consequences for those actions and sometimes even long-lasting ones!  There are things you can give up effortlessly, and other things that will take every ounce of grace within you to release. Letting go of troublesome past experiences may be extremely hard. It is especially difficult to give up something of great attachment or something that reflects you, like a job you love, the house where you live, a friendship or a present relationship. But when you have gone as far as you can with your “Ishmael” and you are ready to see God’s promise fulfilled in your life, you must be willing to ……Let It Go!

The good news is obedience to God is always followed with blessing. When you know God is clear about what you must do, even if it hurts, “ throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles” (Hebrews 12:1) and eagerly and enthusiastically cry out or even sing at the “top of your lungs”…

Let It Go…Let It Go…Let It Go !