Remember when everyone used to do trust falls?
When you fell back, did you really trust that person would catch you?
For me, some people I was too skeptical about, thinking I couldn't trust them one bit to catch me without dropping me. At times, I had the feeling they would purposely let me fall, and of course, laugh when I landed hard to the ground.
Were you too skeptical?
Isn't it crazy that we do the same thing to God? Some can easily let go of their place of standstill, where they are, and without a thought, fall back and trust God will catch them, even though they can't see Him. Have you been doing this lately? Letting go and trusting God to catch you? Or have you been like me? Too skeptical? Too stubborn? You're "trusting" God, but you can't seem to let go at the same time. Did you know that's not trusting in God? In Isaiah 43:18 God says, "Forget (let go of) the former things; do not dwell (do not hold onto, stay/live in) on the past." You're believing you can keep holding on and have God as a plan b safety net. That is not what God is and should never be! He should be first priority. He should be the one we listen to and obey more than people or ourselves. He should be the one we always go to and "cast all of our cares on Him." Why? "Because He cares for you!"
Let go.
If He calls you to let go, then let go and watch Him catch you.
Don't be scared.
Yes, it sounds easier than actually doing it. Trust me, I'm right there with you. I have things I'm learning to let go of and I hear God constantly telling me, "Let go Tiffany." I just couldn't bring myself to it, until I realized, the more I held on tight, the more I was hurting myself. The more I continued to stand in the wrong place, settling my trust in too many wrong (fake) people and temporal things to catch me, the more I was hurting myself.
It's like working out. You're holding onto these 50lb dumbbells in each hand and won't let go. You're thinking you can carry the weight and even show off to people how much you can bear, but you don't see the underlying stress and pain your body is screaming out to you. You're thinking the weights are telling you don't give this up, you have to prove something, show how strong you are, you're weak if you let this go or you have to take control over this. The weights are not your problem, it's you. Stop holding on! Stop gripping those weights! Let go! Release that unforgiveness. Release that suffering. Release that person that left you. Release that guilt. Release that past life. Release that anger. Release whatever you think you have the right to hold on to and let go. It's not doing you any good gripping something God keeps telling you to let go of! I'm preaching to myself. It won't be easy. It may be hard. Letting go isn't going to simply happen overnight or because you said I'm letting go. No. It starts in your mind and your heart.
In Proverbs 4:23 says, "Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life."
In Romans 12:2 says, "Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.
When we let Go and let God work, He promises we will learn to know His will for us, which is not only good, but pleasing and perfect. God's ways bring healing, freedom and peace. Ask him to create in you a clean refreshed heart and a renewed transformed mind!
You see, I haven't worked in two years. I've been judged about it. I felt embarrassed about it. It started with me working at my old, somewhat of a first job, about three years ago. I started working at a childcare facility for a year and a half. The job wasn't too hard. I was a teacher's aide and later became a teacher's assistant. Everyone has their pros and cons of their job. Mine had a lot of cons and less pros, though I would thank God for giving me this job, however, to be truthfully honest, I did complain at the same time. There were a lot of problems with co-workers and the bosses. Well, it came to a point in June of 2020, during COVID, I felt this need to leave. (Also, during that time, I was diagnosed with a medical condition.) I kept ignoring the feeling. I even had a dream of me leaving my job! I couldn't believe it. I said no God! Can you believe that? I flat out said no...to God! Isn't that funny? Well, actually not funny, more like wasn't that disobedience? I complained about the job, matter of fact, I even had multiple interviews for other jobs that didn't work out and I prayed to get a different job, and still I wanted to keep the job. I know. How confused I was. Sheeesh.
But I did it. By faith, I let go. I trusted God to catch me, and you know what? He did. Not in the way I expected, but He caught me.
We think when we fall back and let go into God's arms, it'll be like falling back onto a pillow infested cozy bed, though you may feel your bottom hit the floor. You ask God where are you? Didn't you tell me to let go? I thought you were going to catch me. He did, but not in the way you expected. What I've learned is when I let go, fall back into God's arms, I have to give my complete trust to and in God. Have you ever attempted to fall back into someone's arms while looking back at the same time to make sure they will catch you? That's what you're doing to God. You keep asking him question after question. Are you sure you're going to catch me? Will I get a better job if I let go of this one? Will I get a wife/husband if I let go of this relationship, I'm in now? You can ask God all you want, but most of the time He's not going to tell you. He wants you to grow in faith and trust in Him without questioning and needing answers.
Let me ask you. Has God told you to leave something, but you won't? Has He told you to let go and you you said no? In Genesis 12:1, God tells Abraham to leave his country, his people and father's household. Maybe God is telling you to leave that abusive relationship that you keep holding on to that's hurting you. Perhaps God is calling you to leave old addictive habits. What if God is calling you to leave what is right, good and a blessing in your life but you believe it's the devil trying to take something God gave you? What if God is trying to give you bigger blessings?
Now I'm not saying God wants to take everything from you. I'm not saying God is playing tricks on you. That is not how my God- your God- works! God is simply giving you a command and you have the free will, the choice to listen and obey, or do what you want and stay where you are at.
Continuing Genesis 12, as God says later in the verses, "...and go to a land I will show you."
Now you just backed out. You said, "Wait! He wants me to leave what I know for what I can't see? That's risky. How am I to leave what I've been comfortable with and trust to follow God into the unknown? Well isn't that the same thing as a trust fall?
It's a test of faith. It's a test of trust.
God is telling you to fall back and trust me, believe me. I will catch you.
To finish up the last part of these verses in Genesis 12, God tells Abraham all that he will do for him! He promises Abraham things that haven't happened yet until Abraham placed his faith and trust in God, let go of familiarity and walk with Him into the unknown.
I love the song Waymaker. I love how the song describes God. Waymaker. Miracle Worker. Promise Keeper. Light in the darkness. Amen! God is our promise keeper. His word is true. When He declares it, He will fulfill it because God is faithful. In Philippians 4:19 says, "And my God will supply every need of yours according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus." In Jeremiah 29:11 says, "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, to give you a hope and a future." And because I love the bible and Gods promises so much, I'll give you one more scripture. In Isaiah 41:10 says, "Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."
Only believe. Trust in the Lord. Let go.
He is faithful to catch you when He says let go.
And after God catches you, He will lift you up and rise you back up to stand. Maybe in the same spot you stood last, or perhaps somewhere else He'll carry you to, to stand, but this time you will have a new perspective. When you fall back, you'll see God above you, with His everlasting warming arms around you, and now you can stand in complete and full trust that God will always catch you when you fall, when you let go.
So, let go. Trust fall into you Father's arms today.
Let's pray.
Dear Heavenly Fatherly,
Thank you for telling me to let go. You know what's best. You know what is hurting me more than I do. Help me to release my hold and to hold on to your promises. Help me to stand in a new perspective of knowing I can trust you. I'm giving you all the weight I tried to carry. Thank you for loving, covering and catching me. I love you.
In Jesus name,
Amen.
I pray this was on time for someone. This has been something I struggled with and still to this day.
I'm learning. I'm growing. Freedom, here I come.
Don't forget to show my shop some love :)
Until next time peeps!
Scripture of the week: "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."
Song of the week: Trust by Hillsong Young and Free & Falling Into You by Hillsong Young and Free
