Let Go and Let God ... REALLY!

I know it sounds cliche and we've probably heard it and said it a thousand times, but this morning, on Independence Day, God gave me an epiphany that will truly set us free ... if we let it.

Many of us are control freaks (if we're honest enough to admit it). It's hard for us to let go of the way WE want things to be. Sometimes, that's due to circumstances beyond our control (usually some form of abuse or feeling of powerlessness as a child), but it can be crippling in our adult lives if we don't deal with it and conquer it. We must truly learn to let go and let God!

Sometimes, you can want someone to do something sooooo badly that you cry, beg, plead, wish, pray, get angry, talk about them, be mean to them, be nice to them, bribe them, inspire them, motivate them, talk to them, talk about them, make incentives for them, make excuses for them ... And after you're exhausted from all of that, you'll realize something that my former pastor, the late great Overseer Lonnie C. Harris III used to say "People do what people wanna do." Lonnie 1:1 And I'd venture to add that the next verse would be "People don't do what people don't wanna do." Lonnie 1:2 No matter how hard we try, we can't make people do what WE want them to do. They're not likely to wake up one day and say "John Doe REALLY wants me to do XYZ so I'm gonna do it!" 

The question then becomes what should John Doe's posture / position / response be? This is where the challenge begins for many of us. We begin to withhold things from the person because they won't do what we want them to do. We try to find ways to punish them. We choose not to interact with them. We begin to blame ourselves. We fill our heads with negative thoughts. We say "If (s)he loved me enough, (s)he would do it for me." We say "Maybe I'm not good enough to make him / her change." 

WWJD? What Would Jesus Do? We must show the love of Christ in spite of our differences and let God deal with people and their decisions. We must even show that love to ourselves! Often times, the enemy is in me - meaning we can be our own worst enemies! Negative self talk is very harmful. If we wouldn't let others talk to us in such a way, why would we speak to ourselves that way?

This message came straight from heaven for me!!! There are sooooo many people in my life right now that I just wish would do what "I" think they should do and it's making me feel frustrated, sad, angry, depressed, lonely, abandoned. But God is showing me how to release the reigns and let Him do what He does. It's not easy and I can't help but think people would be so much better off if they just did what I suggest. Lol. But as much as I THINK I know, God knows sooooo much more. I MUST accept what He allows and let His plan unfold! 


God is the ultimate judge and jury. He decides if a person is disobedient or not. Perhaps God hasn't spoken to that person yet regarding the issue. Or maybe your nagging voice is so loud in their ear that they can't hear God. All we have to do is lift Jesus up ... He'll do the drawing! Let God do it. He doesn't need our help! #ContinuEButStayOutOfGodsWay