We hold onto things tightly don't we. How do we know when to let go?
I can't fully answer this question for you, but I can share some insights on the topic from my own faith walk.
I was holding onto a lot of things really tightly. Things I would pray about and I'll admit, whine about, to Jesus. If He wasn't so lovely He probably would have rolled His eyes at me! Maybe He did :)
Do you find yourself complaining, umm, praying, about the same struggles over and over again? I know I do. The more worked up I get over something the more the title of this write came up in my prayer time as the answer.
These things I was holding onto had crossed the line into new territory somewhere along the way and I didn't want to see it. Relationships that had run their course, tasks I should no longer be doing, pursuits I should no longer be chasing. I used to love all of these once upon a time but something happened and they changed. They were no longer sources of love and fulfillment they'd become very draining and the color had left. I didn't see it, didn't want too, I was just stuck and frustrated and prayer whining! WHY GOD WHY??
Over and over, that which is in your grip may leave was the answer placed on my heart during prayer time. Finally, I'm like, okay, what do You REALLY mean here because I'm missing the boat!
Sometimes we hold so tightly to things, people, perspective, feelings, places, comforts etc. that we need to let go of so our hands are free to receive the new things God has for us. Things we are now ready for that we weren't before.
I think of this scripture
"See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland." Isaiah 43:19 NIV
He's doing a new thing, He's always doing a new thing! We just don't really want to perceive it. Our knuckles are white holding on and the outward sign is our frustrated states and prayers. We're in the wilderness and wasteland and He's carving a way out into the new!
Pay attention to areas in your prayers, maybe its not formal prayers to Jesus but it's on your mind constantly. He hears that, it's the difference between talking to yourself or turning to talk to another, aka Him. You can walk around talking to yourself in your head, that's ok, or you can direct it in His direction, that's probably more helpful.
Maybe there is something in your grip that you need to let go of. Imagine dropping it and your hands are beautifully free and empty. Isn't that refreshing? Imagine something new and lovely being kindly placed in your hands by our Creator. If you feel a beautiful warm peace right now that's Him. Take it in, that's what we're after.
When frustration starts bubbling up again because it will, do this again. Imagine dropping it, your hands gloriously free and Him placing something new in them. Feel His peace, repeat, as many times as you need. Thank Him not just because He's putting something new in your hands but for the gift of His peace. The more you chase Him, the more His peace becomes the real gift.
Word of caution, I'm not advising you to dump every thing (or person!) in your life that frustrates you! We must use wisdom and maturity here. But the toxic needs to go, the excess that's drowning us needs to go and sometimes a goodbye is needed for your good and someone else.
I love the saying that people walk with us for seasons and then the season changes. That's not anyone's fault just like fall becomes winter, winter spring and spring summer. People is an interchangeable word here, it could be a habit, a thing, a place, an emotion whose season ends,
and that which is in your grip may leave.