Letting Go

There's an old Gaelic proverb that says, "Nothing can get into a closed fist." It is literally impossible to get anything into a closed fist (if you're skeptical, try it). This "closed fist" mentality is a daily struggle for many of us. It can manifest itself in many different forms, the most common being worry. Worry is, essentially, a lack of faith and/or a distrust of God's ability to handle circumstances. Whenever we raise the "closed fist" of worry, we're telling God that we don't believe He knows what's best.

The reality is, God does know best.

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. {Isaiah 55:8-9}

 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. {Jeremiah 29:11}

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. {Romans 8:28} 

Letting go doesn't mean giving up; it means having enough trust in God's plan to move on. It's one of the hardest things for us to do. Starting at birth, we grasp on to anything we can get our hands on, and hold on as if we will cease to exist when we let go. We feel that letting go is giving up, quitting, and that, as we all know, is cowardly. But letting go isn't a sign of weakness or cowardice; it's an exercise of the strength that faith and trust in God's sovereignty provides. It shows that you believe God is true to His word.

Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. {Proverbs 3:5-6}

Be careful [anxious] for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. {Philippians 4:6-7}

 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. {I Peter 5:7}

 Perhaps you are facing financial troubles, health problems, or other difficult circumstances. God will take care of you. He has a plan, even if you can't always understand why He is allowing you to experience those difficulties. He will take care of you.


Perhaps you are burdened for someone close to you who has drifted far from God and is living in sin. As a brother or sister in Christ, you are to do everything you can to help them understand their need for change and restoration (see Matthew 18 and Galatians 6). If you have already taken the proper steps for confrontation, and they remain steadfast in their rebellion against God, you have to let them go and trust that God will work in their life without your intervention. 


Letting go of someone we love is hard. We often worry that letting them go will be perceived as giving up on them, or not caring enough to keep trying, because we don't want them to think that we don't love them. But letting go means having enough faith to let that person go, trusting that God is big enough to take care of them, no matter how hard you might have to fight yourself to do so. A friend of mind put it this way: "You don't stop loving them, but you have to let them go. Because you love them, you have to have enough strength to let them go and put them completely in God's hands." Show your love by praying for them. Give them over to God - He will take care of them.

Lay all your problems, cares, and worries at the throne of God, and leave them there. Open your closed fist, give everything you're holding on to over to Him, and don't take them back. Ask the Lord to increase your faith and trust in His promises. Keep your hands open so He can give and take people and circumstances in your life as He sees best.