Someone’s hanging from a high ledge, ready to fall! They’re yelling for help and losing strength. Now, they hold on with only one hand. You know emergency teams will never make it in time. Frantically, you grab a nearby sturdy tarp and enlist five or six strong-looking by-standers to hold tightly on corners and sides – a “make-shift” life-net directly below. Realizing the person is about to fall, yet is filled with fear, you yell, “Let go. It’ll be OK.”

This is #6 in a series on hope.

Let Go. It’ll Be OK

How many times have you been in a life situation where you could barely hang on. Ultimately, you feel the seriousness of losing your grip.

Let’s face it. People don’t like to fall. Even so, God tells you to let go and fall into Him as you try to hold your life together. He promises to catch you!

Equally, you’re afraid. Regardless, you decide to believe when God says – “Let go. It’ll be OK.”

It’s Hard To Hold On

Conflicts, problems, and difficulties are part of living.

• They absorb energy and time.
• Sometimes they break your heart.
• Solutions get complicated.
• Relationships suffer despite best efforts, prayer, and faithfulness.
• Energy is drained.
• Hope falters.

 

Subsequently, you keep holding on – waiting for intervention.

Relentlessly, life tensions cause tremendous strain even with good planning. You know you must manage things – whatever resources you have.

God Wants To Help

God wants to help you manage conflicts, problems, and difficulties. Thankfully, He cares deeply about your life – down to the detail.

Although it’s hard to imagine in the middle of tough situations, you can still have peace and joy. However, it requires effective strategies. Plus, it means – “Let go. It’ll be OK.” God will catch you. 

Strategies To Help You – Let Go. It’ll Be OK.

In order to survive, God equips you with strategies to engage hard times. So, implement these eight strategies as needed.

1. Your Skill Sets

God created you with skill sets to deal with difficult developments. You may already know your skill sets. If you don’t, God provides these resources to help you get in touch with what you are capable of doing.

1. Wisdom – God shares His with you. (Jas. 1:5)
2. Problem-solving – Scripture gives great action points.
3. Unique approach to life situations.
4. Strength and insight.

 

Further, His Word gives –

• Direction.
• Promises.
• Discernment.
• Comfort.

 

Equally, God invites you to interact with Him about everything. He will –

• Empower you.
• Enable you.
• Encourage you.

 

Consequently, have you identified your skill sets? Further, are you using them?

As you identify your skill sets and use them, you’ll still know you have limitations. This is when you – “Let go. It’ll be OK.” God will catch you. 

2. Manage Your Life – And Creation

God equipped you to –

• Manage your life.
• Manage creation around you.

 

How can you possibly do both these huge things? Well, God invites you into partnership, which includes your ability to –

1. Nurture relationships.
2. Manage personal habits.
3. Wisely invest your time, energy, and resources.
4. Put your heart into it!

 

It also includes the bigger picture:

1. Feed hungry people.
2. Prevent war.
3. Protect the environment.
4. Develop medicine.
5. Support good business.
6. Expand cities and industry.

 

Interestingly, some of those tasks are well-beyond your and my control. That is, unless we work in concert with one another and with good organizations already set up to address needed tasks.

Good questions to consider:

1. Are you asking God to show you how to engage your skill sets?
2. Also, have you prayed about how to help manage creation?
3. Further, will you obey what God leads you to do?
4. Do you respect the uniqueness of other people and their ideas?
5. Finally, do you respect God’s creation enough to care for it properly?

 

If you cannot say “yes” to these questions, you’ll likely struggle to work in concert with others and with God. Plus, you’ll struggle to manage your own troubles.

Actually, you may conclude it’s just too much. But God says – “Let go. It’ll be OK.”

3. Work Out Differences And Conflicts

God expects you to reasonably work out differences and conflicts as far as it depends on you. Disputes and disagreements threaten areas of your life as well as nations of this world. Yet, God promises to guide your every step as you trust and obey.

Work to address differences and conflicts with creative solutions. Plus, partner with others. Although overwhelming – especially in the big picture of the world – ask God to point you in the right direction. Though it may seem too small, do what you can . . . then “Let go. It’ll be OK.”

4. Stay Away From Sin

Stay away from sin – a simple, effective way to “let go.”

Have you considered partnering with God to stay free from unhealthy habits? Perhaps there’s something you’ve had in your life for years that keeps you ineffective, lonely, or discouraged.

It helps to stay away from things, people, events that are contrary to God’s ways. Essentially, these pull you down. Staying away will involve resolve.

So, “Let go. It’ll be OK.” Because God will help you. 

5. Endure Mistreatment

I wish it were not so. However, reality means there are times you may need to endure mistreatment.

These questions help prepare for mistreatment –

• Are you secure in Jesus?
• Will you trust Him with mistreatment from others?
• Are you willing to suffer wrongdoing from others when not avoidable?
• Also, are you courageous enough to respectfully confront wrong?
• Will you return kindness for disregard?

 

These initiatives are easy to discuss – but hard to do! They require a humble heart, courage, and security in Christ.

If you are afraid, but willing to endure mistreatment for God’s purposes – “Let go. It’ll be OK.”

6. Accept Things May Not Turn Out

Many times, things may not turn out the way you want – which is hard to accept. However, knowing this makes it easier to “let go,” and trust God. He says, “it’ll be O.K.”

Consider this verse.

“Those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.” (1 Pet. 4:19)

Subsequently, commit your disappointment to Jesus, and keep doing good even when things don’t turn out. “Let go. It’ll be OK.”

7. Hang Out With God

You have a standing invitation to hang out with God.

Sadly, there are times others don’t (or can’t) welcome you. Regardless, God welcomes you. When you feel lonely, God is always near. When difficulties pile up, and you are overwhelmed, God knows how to help you get through with admirable courage.

So, it’s essential to hang out with God. “Let go. It’ll be OK.” God wants to hang out with you. 

8. God Does Miracles

God still does miracles. This could be in an “eye-popping” way. Or, it could be as simple as giving you courage, strength, and resolve to do the right thing in this world. Incidentally, that’s a miracle.

Even in the daily trenches, God is with you as you embrace Christ’s peace in circumstances. This, too, is a miracle.

Interestingly, the greatest miracle is to – “Let go.  And to know – It’ll be O.K. Afterall, God is still in control.

Let Go. It’ll Be OK. Summary Points.

Here’s a summary of the strategies available to you:

1. Identify and develop your skill sets for problem-solving.
2. Manage your life – and creation – for God’s glory.
3. Work out differences and conflicts as far as it depends on you.
4. Stay away from sin. Instead, stay close to God.
5. Endure mistreatment and trust God to manage outcomes.
6. Accept it may not turn out as you hope.
7. When you are alone, mistreated, misjudged, misunderstood – hang out with God.
8. Remember – God still does miracles.

 

Remarkably, these strategies help you live with hope. Just – “Let go. It’ll be OK.”

“Whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for Me will find it.” (Mt. 16:25) “Come to Me you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Mt. 11:28)

Application Thoughts And Questions

1. Are you barely hanging on in your circumstances?
2. What specific ways can you tap into God’s comfort and rest?
3. How can you develop your skill sets to solve problems better?
4. What are you doing to manage your life – and creation?
5. Specifically, what creative options can you adopt to work out differences and conflict?
6. Have you committed to stay away from sin?
7. Will you trust God to help you endure mistreatment?
8. Do you accept it may not turn out?
9. How often do you hang out with God?
10. Do you believe God still does miracles?
11. Do you believe God when He says – “Let go. It’ll be OK?”

 

This Series On Hope

1. A Message of Hope
2. Pinhole of Hope
3. You Are Included
4. Change Me, Lord! – New Hope
5. Strong Hope
6. Let Go. It’ll Be O.K. (this article)

 

* Portions of this content come from our book – e-Pistles For An i-Generation: Relevant In A Digital Age – a devotional book that takes you through 1 and 2 Corinthians. You’ll find practical action points that help you know God better and nurture personal growth. You can find this book in our bookstore: www.aliveandactivelife.org/store.

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