Have you ever heard the phrase “let go and let God”?
If you’ve grown up in church my guess would be yes. But how do we actually do that? And why?
My kids love the monkey bars at the park. But they don’t get very far without needing my help. Sometimes I just let them hang there to see how long they can hold on. Is that a dad thing?
Then I tell them to let go. They always hesitate for a moment and then let go. I always catch them and bring them close.
To let go and let God is kinda like that—but with our emotions, minds, and hearts. It’s a falling into grace and allowing God to do what we can’t do on our own.
What do we need to let go of?
How about fear for starters. Then we could create a lengthy list of things like worry, control, money, safety, and comfort. Maybe the better question is what do we not need to let go of?
As I mentioned in Part 1, we are all storytellers. It’s how we make sense of the world. It’s how we join in with what’s happening. There is a story we are part of. The big question is what story do we believe we are living in?
I think we could bundle all these things we need to let go of into one package and call it the old shame story. It’s a familiar story that tells us we are not enough and don’t have enough. It’s a tale of lack, abandonment, and failure.
What’s weird is this story actually helped us as kids to make sense of the world. So we hold on because it’s familiar and comfortable. Yet we need to let go because it’s also hurting us and those we love. We need to let go in order to grow.
It’s in my parenting that I see my shame story show up the most. It’s crazy how often I feel like I’m not enough and don’t have what it takes to even tolerate the moment or circumstance. Most of the time I feel like I’m ruining my kids. Shame makes me feel like I’m solely responsible for the problem and I’m alone in my struggle
It’s time to wake up because that story is not true.
God has never thought those thoughts about me. In fact, nobody but myself has thought those thoughts about me. The same goes for you. We are always hardest on ourselves.
The good news is that we don’t have to live that story. We can let go. Because there is a better way. It’s called Redemption.
Who Jesus is and what He has done is the catalyst for letting go.
Hebrews 12:2 Jesus, who is the Author and Perfecter of faith [the first incentive for our belief and the One who brings our faith to maturity], who for the joy [of accomplishing the goal] set before Him endured the cross, disregarding the shame,and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God [revealing His deity, His authority, and the completion of His work].
Notice what Jesus has already done. He is both the author and perfecter of our faith, endured the cross, and conquered shame. Why? “Because his heart was focused on the joy of knowing that you would be His” (Hebrews 12:2 TPT)
In other words, intimacy! To be fully known. To love and be loved is at the core of Redemption’s story.
When we are fully known shame has no place to hide and grace (power made perfect in our weakness) is available to let go.
That’s why the beginning of Hebrews 12 tells us — “So we must let go of every wound that has pierced us and the sin we so easily fall into.” (TPT)
This verse makes so much more sense when I understand what Jesus has already done. His person and work releases grace for me to respond… by letting go.
Here are 5 practical ways to let go
- Journaling: Thoughts become untangled when I write them down. I find the practice of journaling so valuable and helpful in understanding what I feel and believe, what’s true and not true. TIP: Don’t edit what you write. Just write and see what comes out.
- Soul of Shame: Retelling the Stories we believe about ourselves by Curt Thompson. This book has rocked my world. I didn’t even know I had an old shame story until I read this book.
- Enneagram: Such a soulful grid for life. It’s helped to uncover what’s holding me back and allow grace to shine on those dark places.
- Centering Prayer: A Christian contemplative practice of letting go. I just recently discover the transformative power of this practice. It’s now a regular part of my spiritual habits.
- Professional Help: There is no shame in getting professional help. A good therapist or counselor can help you dig down into your story in a matter of weeks as well as give you helpful insight for next steps.
Next week I’ll post on how to fully embrace Redemption’s story. In the meantime check out my live teaching on this topic I recently shared at LifePointe Church in Kansas City.
FYI my teaching begins at the
Question: What story do you believe you are living in? What part(s) of your story is distorted by shame?
Prayer: Father we ask that the light of your grace shine on our darkest places. Help us to see Jesus fresh and new.