We Just Need to Let Go

Back in February, one of the other leaders of Iron Sharpens Iron (our interdenominational Christian ministry) posted a blog post regarding the "Dangers of Faking It" in ministry.

I'm sad to say that it was one of the most convicting posts that I've ever read. We sometimes forget how broken we are, how much we actually need God, and we act like perfect Christians. It leads to manipulation, putting on a show, being someone you're not...I can't think of a better form of pride.

If we're not feeling spiritually called to seek after an opportunity, we shouldn't take it, even if it seems like it's a good thing. When we're planning on giving a talk but don't feel close to God, we probably should not give that talk.

Why?

Why do we put on this show? Why do we pretend that we're not going through anything? That we don't have any of our own lamentations?

This life is not easy...no one ever said it was going to be. And following Christ? It's even harder. It's difficult to seek after a life where you are going to be persecuted, hated, suffering.

We all have this anguish.

I mentioned the difficulty in accepting the cross. When we start following Christ, we have to give up "us". It's not easy to give up our desires, our possessions, our relationships....it's not easy to hand those things over to God.

But I've determined over the past two weeks that it's not even that easy...

Following Christ is more than giving up all of the good things...it's also giving up all of the bad things.

Sounds pretty easy, but it's not.

This anguish is real anguish, and I'd be lying if I didn't tell you that at times, I love latching onto that...the depression, the struggles, the hard times, the lamentations. Why would we not want to hand this over to God?

But there are many times that I don't want to, and I can't bring myself to...

We need to "let go"...let go of all of it. Not just the desires, not just the material possessions, but the frustration, the anger, the loneliness, the lack of confidence...

And as Paul says in 1 Philippians 4, this "letting go", this "turning over of everything to God" will lead to the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding.

It's available. It's there. We just need to let go.