Letting Go of Holding On
If you grasp and cling to life on your terms, you’ll lose it, but if you let that life go,
You’ll get life on God’s terms.
Luke 17:33 (The Message)
My children are spreading their wings and they are starting to fly. I have committed the last quarter of a century to preparing them to find their path.
Truth is, sometimes I am afraid. If I let them go, I have to let me go. If I trust God with their future, I have to trust Him with mine. What will become of the mama who has known her purpose every minute, of every day, for 25 years? My tendency is to do what is instinctive to my natural flesh; squeeze tighter to hold on to what I know. The hand that has encouraged life begins to hold it back. When my grip tightens, I choke their future and my own.
Jesus tells me to loosen the grasp of what makes sense to me; it is time to fly in new territory.
My desire is to move forward in God Purpose. I want to be deliberate and mindful of His presence, and calling, in my life. I want more Jesus and so I am dreaming God-Sized Dreams… for me!
I have to become as intentional for my future as I have been for my children’s. Some women are just born with the gift of training up children. I had to learn how to grow mine. Through prayer, classes, wise counsel, mistakes (oh, the mistakes!), grace, and mercy mine have survived me and been given a Jesus Foundation. In order to enter the next season of my life with confidence, I will need to do the same.
The skies ahead are unknown to me, but they are not unknown to God. The cross that has given purpose in the past will give even more cause for the future; the Great Commission will always be to make Glory known. The terms will be different, but the source will be the same.
At the beginning of these teenage, and young adult, years I used to say, “I am holding on and letting go.” Now, I am letting go of holding on. It is the only way to have full life; less of me and more of Jesus.
Isn’t this always the Way?
Are you feeling a tug to pursue a God Dream in unfamiliar territory? Are you thinking you are not equipped for the desires God has pressed on your heart? Perhaps you are wanting more Jesus right where you are. Jesus God-Sizes everything. I want to encourage you to pray and seek the plans He has for you. The One in whom you live, and breathe, and move, wants to give you full, abundant life in every day.
An awesome place to find encouragement is in You’re Made for a God-Sized Dream by Holley Gerth. Holley explains that a “God-Sized Dream = more of what God has for you.” Her site will cheer you along the way and help you say, “yes” to a God-Sized Dream. When you start dreaming with a BIG God, you do not just fly – you have to soar!
In Jesus, the best is always yet to be.
Is Jesus leading you in a God-Sized dream? I would love to hear about it! Please leave a comment or send me an email and let’s dream big together.
I pray you Live Like You Know… where you are going!
Beautiful Sparrow,
great article my friend –
letting are kidos go is a bummer, I’ve learned that over and over…
Some of the best advice i have been given was from a dear friend Nancy Leigh DeMoss, maybe you’ve heard of her. God brought Nancy into my life during a tough time when my oldest daughter was “figuring” out life her way. Nancy said to me, “Teresa, we don’t want to rescue our children from the cross of Christ.” And she’s right, I don’t want to ever step in front of God and get in His way, it’s hard, and humbling to surrender the momma in me.
Take heart my friend this is where momma’s unite and pray for their families arm-in-arm
Teresa, Thank you for your kind words and advice. Finding the balance between still raising children (that are independent for the most part). while transitioning to the next phase of my life, can be difficult. It seems we are all moving forward in different directions. I am learning to take one day at a time, asking God to order my steps and cherish what each one holds. You are precious! Thank you, Bonnie
I can SO relate Bonnie!
When given the opportunity, I tell every mom, “I should have started letting go when they were in kindergarten!” My tight grip is related to and rooted in my own childhood…never feeling safe or like anyone was there to help when I needed it. I so wanted it to be different for my kids, but held on too tightly. I love this ~ “I’m letting go of holding on.” . Thank you for such a beautiful reminder that to everything there is a season…a time to let go and trust the Lord and His ways ~ especially where are kids are concerned. 😀
Caryn,
Great advice! Thank you for your encouragement and for sharing some of your God-Story. Your words encourage me to search my past to seek the root of my fears for me and my children. Hmm… more growth coming!