If You Love Something, Let It Go

Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.  James 5:16 NASB

Cast your burden upon the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken.  Psalms 55:22 NASB

Sunday before this past one, I went to church with my mentor.  The sermon she gave was great and reminded me of the importance of being covered in your armor.  However, what I'm going to share was the sermon outside of the sermon, the importance of surrendering a thing to God. 

At the church we visited, it was Women's Day.  There was an older woman who was the Women's Day committee chair.  Unknown to her, the women of the church, including the First Lady, decided to honor her and had her granddaughter dance, and 4 of her daughters were there in attendance.  The love the church had for this woman and the love and honor the daughters displayed for her was beautiful.  But what stuck out to me was when she got up to speak.  She testified of God's goodness, but what spoke to my heart was how she prayed for her children, raised them in the church, and left them to God.  And as a result, 6 of her 7 children are saved.  Even now, she is still praying for the last child to turn to God. It brings to mind Luke 15--the parable of the Lost Sheep and the parable of the Lost Coin.

She loves her children, as all parents do; as God loves all of us.  Even when we fall short, even when we want to quit, even when we want to turn our backs on Him and even when we do, He still loves us.  As I write this, I am reminded of the Prodigal Son.  I felt like that this week, wanting to quit and drop all these burdens that have been placed on me and go about life my own way.  And God being God, He will let you go, should you desire to go your own way.  But His word will still be in your heart, His promises still on your mind.  And hopefully, one day you will wake up and remember who you are, like the Prodigal son, and return to Him to be reunited to Him.  Now this is not a message to encourage you to stray, but if you have already strayed or are interceding for someone else, leave them to God.  Leave that person that is tugging on your heart strings to God, and like that mother, they will return to Him, because even when it doesn't seem like it, God answer our prayers.

The beauty of both of these situations was how the love of God was apparent.  That mother at the church loved her children and wanted to see them all saved and that father in the parable rejoiced at seeing his wayward son come home; both are evidence of God's never-ending love for us.  So whatever is weighing you down, a relationship, desires of marriage, family, or friendships, let it go.  Let go to God, and trust, in due time, it will return to you, better than before.  Maybe with a different person for a relationship, or a new friendship, but trust God loves you so much that He will give you exactly what you need.

"And the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.'  "But the father said to his slaves, 'Quickly bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet; and bring the fattened calf, kill it, and let us eat and celebrate;  for this son of mine was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.' And they began to celebrate.  Luke 15:21-24