Letting Go of the Lie
She wanted to be free. But she didn’t know how un-free she was until she saw her right hand. It was a fist, a clenched fist, a fist locked tight around the stuff she was scared to let go of.
But letting go seemed scary, like she’d lose control if she opened her hands.
And she was absolutely right about that: She would lose control if she opened her fist.
But she never had control in the first place. Control is a sham, and fists are a farce. The truth was this: The stuff in her hand had control over her. She knew it for sure on that night, years ago, when she found the words in her Bible:
“Is not this thing in my right hand a lie?”
She started to let go of the “things in her right hand,” and she thought she might have to keep letting go of them, all the way to glory. But she was willing.
And when her hand was empty? That’s when she felt it — the hand of Christ holding onto hers.
Dear Lord,
Peel our stubborn, white-knuckled fingers off of what we’re holding onto: the lies we tell ourselves … about ourselves; our fears over the future; our secret idols and addictions and past hurts. We hold tight to regret and worry and anticipated failure. Help us empty our hands so we can hold tight to the hand of Christ. Amen.
So precious
Jennifer, your words always touch my heart deeply. This was beautiful. Praying the same prayer…”Help us empty our hands so we can hold tight the hand of Christ.”
Blessings to you,
Beth
I suspect I might be praying this prayer until my last day, until I’m in glory. The enemy wants us to grab hold of the stuff we’ve already let go. And he also gets creative in putting new idol propects in front of us.
Wow! A little less than 2 hours ago I opened my right hand and let go of something…then, this! Jennifer, thank you. God used you to affirm something for me today. Hugs to you my friend.
Hugs back. Glad that God could use these words to affirm you, Mary.
Perfect analogy. The bondage is by our own hands. The hand of the Lord is easy. HIs yoke, easy, His burden light. We are truly free from this world, the lies, the things we try to measure by physical means can never add up to the Treasure within us waiting to make us free indeed. A needed reminder. Thanks.
This is a prayer that most of us need to pray. Your post dovetails with the post I offered today. Very different posts but the truths are the same. Blessings to you.
This is great – had a 30 minute challenge today that made me realize I get caught up in the why – it’s the thing I hold tight to, not faith and trust. Thank you for sharing.
Great post, Jennifer! Reminds me that I’m never really in control, no matter how hard I try to structure my life. It’s only when I let go and admit that all I do is make a mess of things and turn it all over to God that I can breathe a sigh of relief, knowing that God has it all under control. (Posted a link on Facebook)
Perfect, Jennifer..love how He reaches for our hand 🙂
Today I am struggling to let go of my childhood home. My mother died a little over a year ago and for the last month I have been going through a HOME my parents made for our family. They bought their home 55 years ago and has been filled with so much love and so many wonderful memories. I am so thankful to the Lord that He gave us parents who brought us all to the Lord and I know we will see each other again one day, yet letting go of our home is so hard, it’s like letting go of my mom and dad all over again. I need to feel the Lord holding my hand right now and be reminded of that home He has for us one day and know everything is going to be ok.
amen!
Thank you Jennifer, this reminder was so timely for me, your words going straight to my heart. Reminding me that I need to let go of what I hold onto in my tightly balled hand in order to hold onto my Fathers hand – beautiful imagery.
Dear Jennifer
This reminds me so much of God asking Moses what he was holding in his hand. He told then to throw the staff down before He changed it in a snake! When we cling onto our insecurities, Pappa will do nothing, but once we let it go, just watch and see!
Blessings
Mia
For I am the LORD your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you. Isaiah 41:13
I can feel the warmth of His hand in mine with this post! Beautiful!
I have been trying to let go of my daughter who will turn 18 on the 16th of July. She spent the last couple of years as a chronic endangered runaway and came home pregnant. Now, 6 weeks after the birth of my granddaughter, she has left home again. I have been reflecting a lot about empty nexts and letting go. I had written her a letter to intentionally recognize this milestone in her life and my willingness to let go. Thank you for your post.