Letting Go When You Can't See What's Ahead
Letting go is hard.
Am I right?
When we want something so badly that we're willing to fight, struggle, and strive to make it happen against all odds, but then, at the end of the day, have to let go anyway-- that's so incredibly difficult and painful.
It feels like such an acute loss.
The loss of a dream.
The loss of a possibility.
The loss of a chance.
The loss of an idea.
The loss of a future we created for ourselves.
So, how do we let go? And how do we possibly let go when we're not sure what's ahead? It's one thing to let go of plan A when we have a clear plan B, but when you've exhausted all your plans or unexpectedly had to let go of something you'd been clinging to, how do you move forward?
IN FAITH
Ultimately, it comes down to having faith in God's plan and His timing. Which really begins with having faith in Him. Do we believe He is who He says He is? Do we trust that He knows better than we do? Do we believe that no matter what happens, He is still good, and that His plan is ultimately for our good and His glory?
He is still good.
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever. - Psalm 136:1
He is in control.
"Abba, Father," He cried out, "everything is possible for You. Please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want Your will to be done, not mine." - Mark 14:36
He never leaves.
I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go. - Genesis 28:15
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you. And through the rivers; they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you. - Isaiah 43:2
He cares deeply.
Give all your worries and cares to God, for He cares about what happens to you. - 1 Peter 5:7
He has a plan.
"My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts," says the Lord. "And My ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so My ways are higher than your ways and My thoughts higher than your thoughts." - Isaiah 55:8-9
He is trustworthy.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek His will in all you do, and He will show you which path to take. - Proverbs 3:5-6
He is our hope.
"Those who hope in Me will not be disappointed." - Isaiah 49:23
ONE STEP AT A TIME
When I don't know how to move forward because I'm unsure of the path ahead, I remind myself that I only have to go one step at a time.
Because I'm a planner (and admittedly a bit of a control freak), I would prefer to have the whole plan laid out before me. But it doesn't work that way. I'm only given one step at a time, so that's all I have to focus on.
Martin Luther King, Jr said, "Take the first step in faith. You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step."
IN COMMUNITY
Although our struggles and circumstances are often individual and personal, that doesn't mean we have to go through them all by ourselves. We weren't meant to do life alone!
Friends, family, and community members are in our lives for that very purpose-- to encourage, inspire, motivate, listen, point us in the right direction, give us perspective, and support us through life's ups and downs (and let us do the same for them). I encourage you to reach out to them!
What does your first step look like? Mine looks like taking a deep breath and reminding myself that everything is part of God's plan-- a plan created for my good and His glory, a plan that ends with love winning.