Letting Go in Order to find a new Hope

Letting go is hard.  Us humans in our fleshy emotional selves, are faced with all kinds of situations that require us to let go in some way:

The death of a loved one.
A relationship that is no longer healthy.
Carbohydrates.
Dreams.
Control.
Size 4.
Grudges.
A sixteen year-old driving down the road, alone, for the first time.
Social Media.

When I was laid off at the end of February, God kept whispering, "be still".  As I drove to see my grandpa that last day, the conversation centered around, "be still".  As I pulled out the gift from my grandma, "be still".  The week after my grandpa passed away, I chose to "be still", as I sat for forty-five minutes and permanently marked another long journey in my testimony of God's goodness and provision.

 Psalm 46:10 Be still and know that I am God.

Ephesians 14:14 The Lord will fight for you, you only need to be still.

The Hebrew word for still, centers around letting go and surrendering.  We surrender in order to acknowledge that God is in control.

The Greek word for still, is to "hold peace", rest.  To rest, knowing that God will give us peace.

I have had to let go of a lot more than I could ever have imagined or wanted to these past seven months, some of them unexpected, and some of them long overdue.  Then one day, Justine Brooks Froelker - When Hope Grows Up: Finding Hope in His Plan found its way into my devotional rotation.  She writes (summarized):

...that too often we see hope as a badge or a reprieve when stories of hope are tied to the "happy ending".  We should not just share our highlight reel of victory, but also of struggle, conviction, and perseverance - remembering fosters faith.  Owning our stories, means owning ALL the parts.  Sometimes we have to redefine our hope and let go of a dream.  This doesn't mean that we have given up, that we quit, or that we have chosen without loss...

God will send you the Word you need, the devotion you need, the people you need, at the exact time you need them.  When we are part of something for many, many years, and then life happens, people transition, philosophies start to change and/or new personalities take over...that is often God giving us the opportunity to examine our heart, motives, service, and determination of who/where our hope lies.

I have been contemplating a change for over a year now.  I was stuck a few weeks ago wondering if I had failed to be obedient when God first laid it on my heart, or if He needed me to walk the discernment process...As I prayed over the current situation, I knew it was time to let go, even though that choice would come with some loss.  I texted a brief summary to a friend for affirmation, because two big arrows were pointing at my vulnerable humanity...and asked for some prayers.  She immediately sent back, "guilt is not from the Lord".  Cue the waterworks...

The next day, my new BFF Justine wrote:  Healthier hope comes from learning to practice active acceptance of what we cannot change, balanced with the trust that He holds the end of the story.

It takes trust for us to let go of all the things that worry us, that keep us up at night, that distract from the now.  It took a brief and profound five-day devotional for me to realize that letting go is not giving up, quitting, or selfish.  It is accepting, redefining, and embracing a new version of you.  One that God has provided rest, peace, surrender, and His happy ending for.

Puppy Perspective

Well, hello there!  It has been a few weeks since I have been able to sit "quietly" and jot a few words down.  I am sitting here on a beautiful crisp October morning, a super-fresh cup of dark-roast coffee tempting my nose and delighting my taste-buds and energy button, a 56 pound basset hound at my feet (super warm by the way), and a tiny, rescued, 8-week, 5 pound-ish beagle/basset puppy teaching a rawhide a lesson under my chair.

The last time we had a puppy, was ten years ago.  The kids were also small at that time, we had just moved 90 miles, started new jobs, new school...but by the grace of God did I make it through that season.  I feel like I am a little more tolerant, albeit tired, of puppiness this time around.  Poop, is just that, poop.  I have learned to clean up bigger messes in my life.  Three-thirty a.m. bathroom breaks?  I was honestly, wide-awake anyhow.  You want to battle my maxi-skirt?  I can totally tie it in a knot above my knees until I am ready to head out the door.  "Get a puppy," they said, "it will be fun," they said.

Perspective.

I told a co-worker (so relieved to be able to say that again!) last week:  I think children of God are kind of like puppies.  We are learning and growing everyday.  Sometimes we make it to our destination, and sometimes we poop under our favorite chair (figuratively speaking of course...).  Some days we take in all the nourishment we are fed and offered, other days, we leave a little bit scattered in the corner of the kitchen.  Some mornings we want to sleep at 3:00 in the morning, and others, we sit on the front steps in the dark, cool air and talk to God while a little fur ball does her business.  Puppies can scratch, bite, and shout at you in their little "wookie" bark, and the next moment, they are climbing into your lap to give you cold-nose kisses and burrow into the crook of your arm.  We humans tend to get a little huffy and lash out, realize what we have done, and humbly nuzzle back into the arms of our Master, who can't help but smile, pat us on the head, and fully embrace us.

Obedience.

Every moment is a deliberate, repetitive lesson with a puppy: "no", "outside", "come-on", "don't eat that", "sit", "treat", "ahhhhhhhhh".  You all...God, the Father is working in us, daily, and I know with me, it is the same phrases, over and over:  "pray", "be still", "peace", "forgiveness", "you think you can do better?  Okay, I will be right over here when you are ready."

When I was matching up scripture to the message I wanted to share today, the funniest one came up:
 
Psalm 22:20 Deliver my soul from the sword, my precious life from the power of the dog!

Matthew Henry's commentary says: That he (God) would deliver and save him.  Observe what the jewel is which he is in care for...save him from the terror...save him from corruption.

I am totally chuckling...this little jewel of a puppy in my care...who often we call a "little terror".  But not chuckling...Psalm 22 is speaking of the future death and resurrection of Jesus.

From the book of Matthew, Chapter 6:  Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts (trespasses), as we also have forgiven our debtors (those that trespass against us).  And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

As the rescuer and master of this puppy, I am tasked with providing for her:  nourishment, the right way to behave, grace and forgiveness when she simply doesn't, realizing that after two weeks of no accidents, one is bound to happen.  Our family has agreed to meet her needs of food, bedding, shelter, love, and the occasional special treat.

The difference is God promises all those things to us, the Lord's Prayer is a gift of instruction.  He is not capable of faltering...He rescues us and meets our needs (not to be confused with our wants) and the needs of all of God's creatures...in us, through us, and right exactly where we are...three o-clock in the morning, under the tall mulberry tree, is a beautiful place to be.

Rescued.  Perspective.  Obedience.  Get quiet today and discern these three words working in your life. Thank you Father for saving me, for giving me your Word as a map, and for speaking to my heart so that I may do my human best to walk in your ways.  Amen.

from Housemix.com