Let Go
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4: 6-7
As the football went gliding through the air, they all charged forward and pressed toward the prize. After some scrambling, ending in a dog pile, the largest and strongest emerged from the pack with the prize. He acted as though he was going to give the football to me, but grabbed it back as soon as I reached out to receive what he was handing to me, as if he had second thoughts.
Again, he reached out to me with the football, and I tried again until I succeeded in grabbing the small plush football held securely in the dog’s mouth. Then the tug of war began. He pulled and growled as I pulled back, saying, “Let it go so I can throw it!” I gave up and let go, and went back to typing on my computer.
Shortly, the small plush football was sitting in my lap, and the dog was sitting patiently, waiting for me to take it and throw it again. I threw the football, and they all ran after it again. As usual, the biggest, strongest dog with the loudest growl won the competition. Again, he brought me the football as if he wanted me to take it…and again we played tug of war. I stopped tugging and waited for him to give it to me, then went back to work on my computer. Again, the football was in my lap. As I picked it up again, he grabbed it back from me. The tug of war began again.
The same scenario played again and again. I grew tired of the tug of war, and said “Rocky, if you want me to do what you are asking me to do, you must LET GO!” When I heard my own words, I felt the Lord in my heart saying, “Yes, just like I can’t do what you are asking ME to do, until you decide to LET GO.”
Ouch. The Lord spoke to my heart though one of His furry creations. I smiled with head bowed, amazed again at the wonder and wisdom of the Lord. He created these animals to be our companions. Again, the Lord has graciously addressed my weakness through an animal, and allowed me to enjoy and appreciate His gentle reminder.
Help us, Lord, to give over to You our anxious thoughts and requests that we hold so tightly because they are so dear to our hearts. We plan to let go and give them to You, but we continually hold on to them. Yet we give them to You, and take them back again and again. Help us, Father, to see that You want us to completely LET GO so You can work.
Amen!
That’s a difficult ‘task’, letting go. Thanks for alerting me/us to what we may be doing to hinder the Lord!
Great analogy! Thanks for sharing.❤️
Thank you. Let go is the “theme or word” or whatever you want to call it that the Lord impressed upon my heart for this year. Of course only He knew how many things would come up challenging me to indeed let go of and put in His sovereign hands. I have failed too many times to count actually, but each time I do He gently takes the issue or circumstance in His hands and does with it what is meant to be done. I am weary of the tug of war and am purposing to let go and truly let Him have them, thank you for this furry encouragement and word picture 😊