The best thing I ever did was to let go of the life I had planned so as to open my arms for the life that God had waiting for me. That wasn't as easy to do as it was to write. I struggle daily with perfectionism, performance mentality and people pleasing. Some days, I am not exactly the poster child for calm, content Christian woman. Please. There are certain days I need an intervention of biblical proportions.
So often we hear "Let Go and let God". It's a catchy christian phrase that requests something many of us resist. Surrender. Let's face it, it isn't exactly a word we often see included in our Top Things To do, Accomplish or Become lists.
Let go of the rung of the ladder I've climbed for years in corporate America?
Let go of the status symbol life?
Let go of the boards I sit on, church groups I lead, PTA causes I'm in charge of?
Let go of the full social calendar?
Let go of my perfectly appointed home? My meticulous makeup and skin care routine? My keto diet? All I've worked and succeeded to?
Surrender requires relinquishing our dreams, desires, wants and goals to the ultimate plan, wisdom and glory of God. Again, easier said than done. I am 9 years into the born again gig and I fail daily. I am not patient like Job. I am about as still as a someone frantically spring cleaning their home for unannounced company arriving in ten minutes - constantly. I have quotas and deadlines and metrics to hit. I can't just sit still and hope it all gets done. Let's not even mention the single mom thing! I don't have someone else to fall back on. If it's to be, it's up to me! And it's much easier to just do it for God than to wait on him and trust He will get to it.
"Be still and know that I am God." Psalm 46:10
“The LORD will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.” Exodus 14:14
“Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him." Psalm 37:7
“Be still” is translated as cease striving, calm down, stop fighting, reeeeelaaaaaaxxx.
"Be silent" means to hold your peace, do nothing, remain at rest.
"Rest" equates to HUSH!, be silent; do not murmur; make no complaint.
I said in my last post that we amaze God when we have big faith. But big faith requires big trust. In trusting him completely we let go and surrender. Surrender brings forth a peace that passes all understanding and we then experience calm, restful silence. When you get to that place, when you tackle life and the to do list with that mindset, friend, it's then you put yourself on the Christianity poster and you don't care if your friend sees your house unkept.