Is My Grasp Too Tight?

The answer is a very strong YES it is! Sit quietly with me and hear about what God is teaching me, as I sit in my favorite pink spot, enjoy a cup of hot tea in my favorite Peanuts cup, and look at the beautiful colors of one of my favorite seasons.

 I think I’m learning something about myself that is difficult to accept, yet somewhat easy to change as long as I am holding on to the right One. You see, God’s been trying to tell me loudly that I have too tight a grasp on the people I love and the things of this world. I believe that He wants me to hold more tightly to His hand and to trust Him rather grasping so tightly to the things that can so easily be taken away.

I read several devotions each day after studying my Bible and one of my favorites is Jesus Calling by Sarah Young. (A dear friend gave me this wonderful book!) It always seems to be so relevant to what I am studying and to what is going on in my life. Just the other day, I was thinking about this idea of holding too tightly to temporary things when I picked up that little book and read this…

 “…My main work is to clear out debris and clutter, making room for My Spirit to take full possession. Collaborate with Me in this effort by being willing to let go of anything I choose to take away. I know what you need, and I have promised to provide all of that – abundantly!”

 “Your sense of security must not rest in your possessions or in things going your way. I am training you to depend on Me alone finding fulfillment in My Presence….Instead of grasping and controlling, you are learning to release and receive. Cultivate this receptive stance by trusting Me in every situation.”

Wow, you could have knocked me over with a feather after I read this! I do hold too tightly to my husband, my kids, my friends, my ministries, and not tightly enough to my Lord. These are sometimes tough lessons. He wants me to remember that He is all I need. He knows me best and knows what and who I need in my life. He is the only One who will set my paths straight and show me what is to come in this next season of life.  I CAN TRUST HIM! I do not need to hold so tightly, I do not need to try to grasp or control the future. He is already there!

I love my husband, my kids, my family, and my dear friends, and I’m SO thankful for them, but I must learn to love and depend on my Lord more than on them. I must let go and grab tightly to Him.

Two of my good friends reminded me of some important things recently and I dearly love them for always pushing me out of my box, and for reminding me that Jesus is the true Love of my life. One said this, “that it is so freeing when you finally let go”. The other reminded me that this place is not our home, and that we need to stop trying to make it our home, and that even if everyone I love was gone, I would still have Jesus. You see, we have an eternal home and we should long for that home as we live out our faith here, depending more on Him as we walk through our daily lives.

 I’ll close with another reminder, that is, that if we trust Him and Him alone, He will guide us and lead us in right paths. He is faithful and trustworthy! May I walk each day knowing that He is my security and peace, He is my first Love and He is the One who will never leave me or forsake me.

Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight.” Amen and Amen!

Jesus Calling by Sarah Young – 2004 Thomas Nelson Publishers