Last week I challenged myself to wrestle with the question "What if I really let go and let God lead me, totally?" I must admit that I'm still very much beginning this journey of selling out to God but I do know the initial answer to my question, actually it has a few parts....- You will be tested. period. no way around it. Something, or many things, will pop up to push you to the limits and make you really want to snatch this control thing right back from God. And you might for a little while (we are human) but in the end to continue this journey you've gotta give control back to where it belongs - to God. For me this came in a most unexpected form (as it would) something I had long planned on, for well over a year suddenly went from a firm plan to a well, probably not. I felt it deep. I cried, and I'll be honest I cursed and then after wrestling my plans down I told God, "Okay, it's yours." Not easy and I have been trying to snatch back my plan in little bits when I'm not focusing on God - but overall, I'm letting it go.
- You will be affirmed. This also comes in various forms. But in many little and not so little ways the message of letting God rule in your live came at me over and over again this week. A song on the radio right when I start the car, the pastor's sermon at a church I hardly ever attend, a verse I stumble upon, a random email. Over and over again God reminded me in little ways that I can trust Him with my life and let go.
- You will seek Him and know Him better. As I struggled with my Type A self I found myself heading back to prayer and the Bible as sources of strength and inspiration. Promises flood the Bible and assure me that He is near. During the week I was informed that an old friend had chosen to end their life. As my heart broke for the family and I mourned this loss I had to turn to Him and seek Him. When I did I didn't find answers, but comfort. God is a God we can come to as a friend, we might not always leave knowing why, but we can leave feeling loved.
- You will feel the weight lift. I had a little epiphany one night as I laid in bed wrestling with a concern - it felt like a physical weight that I just couldn't let go of, one that held me down and captured my thoughts. Here's the break though I had as I laid there - why not just tell God about it and choose to stop thinking about it. It was something that would never occur to me to "give" over to God. But I did. And my friends, I felt physical relief. So much so that I have become a bit of a junkie with sharing my worries with God and then letting Him carry the load. Somehow I trust that He will work things out or bring it back to mind when I need to deal with it again. The peace I feel over this is so precious.
- You will keep on keeping on. This journey is not one with an end point, it's a daily struggle to give God the reins of your life. I don't intend that I'll ever post the "I've done it!" story with this one. I just pray I keep on keeping on.
Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.
Psalm 62:8
For more "What If" challenge posts go here.
Sorry for your friend Karri. So sad. I popped over here to have you look at this blog. I think you would really like it. Her little clutches are darling. Have a good day! I'll say a prayer!
ReplyDeletehttp://noodleheads.blogspot.com/
Beautifully spoken. I enjoyed reading your post.
ReplyDeletePraying peace over your friend's family and you too!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing the truth of God's affirmations.. He is truly for us, not against us.
Karri, as a fellow Type A I often struggle to submit my challenges from the beginning... rather than as a last resort. Love this verse.
ReplyDeletePraying for strength and peace for this family.
Answering "What if?" is itself an act of faith - stepping out in faith. I can imagine Peter saying "what if I go see Cornelius" or Paul asking "what if I go talk to Gentiles?" Mighty things, and important things, can come from "what if." Good post.
ReplyDeleteWow. That control thing. Hard to let it go. Great lessons here. Praying for your friend's family right now.
ReplyDeleteI found you from Bonnie's challenge. I'm so sorry about your friend and my prayers are with you and the family. Thank you for being so open and sharing.
ReplyDelete"why not just tell God about it and choose to stop thinking about it."
ReplyDeleteI exhaled reading this, Karri. I am familiar with this scene. ;)
I loved how self-aware and God-aware you are, at the same time. This is a very good list of points along the path of abiding in Christ. Like the tide returns to the sea... that is the picture I got reading your post.
Thank you for sharing this with us!
Karri, I'm sorry to hear about your friend.
ReplyDeleteAs a "Type AB" (I can be driven, but then I burn out and relax for a while before starting again), I know how hard it is to simply let things go out of our hands. I love your thoughts on this...I'll continue mulling them over today. Thanks!
Karri, I'm here because I just found Bonnie's blog 2 days ago. I've been struggling with letting go too. I have like 28 songs on my Playlist playing randomly. As I was reading paragraph #2 Francesca Battestelli's "I'm Letting Go" started playing. As I was reading, some of the words I was reading were the same exact words she was singing!! I had to pause in shock. Then, I just smiled because God keeps speaking to me thru blogs I read and I keep on keeping on instead of changing direction.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing those answers because I ABSOLUTELY had to read them.
Pat :)
praying with you and thanks for sharing..
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