"Trusting God means letting go,” I told my friend as we sat on her porch one morning. She was on the brink of making a life changing decision to move several states away. I listened to her tell me in excitement about the possibility. Though it would be a huge leap of faith, she felt the Lord was leading her and her husband to take it. I couldn’t help but be overjoyed for her. We sat there like school children making plans and anticipating how this could all play out.
There were so many things to consider. Big things like, how she might go about selling her home. So we talked about renovations that would need to be made. Repair this: yes, we can do that. Paint that: no, it looks fine. Knock out a wall and make a room bigger: definitely not. And we discussed the smaller things like, what furniture she would have to take, what she might need to sell, how to sell it and what to get rid of. “If this does really happen,” she said, “I have so much to purge. I keep everything.”
She started to make a mental checklist. Beginning at the top floor of her home, she made her way through each room deciding what she would do with the contents. She made her way through the entire house, out the door to the garage and she stopped there . . . Where the totes are.
Oh, the plethora of totes. Totes full of clothing for her four boys that were either given to her, were hand me downs, or future garage sale merchandise that have been stored away. Just waiting to be used. These totes have been around a long time. They get pulled out, added to, and taken out for yard sales at least once a year. She knew she wouldn't want to move all of them. They were heavy and took up a lot of room. And besides, they would just sit somewhere else and wait to be used. But, she was still hesitant to put them in her mental purge pile. Because, “What if?” “What would we do when?” It’s hard to let go of things you've held on to for so long. It’s hard to let go and let God.
“You know," I said, "Holding on to something you don’t need today really says you aren't trusting God to provide it the day you do.” As I shared those words with my friend that day, I could see the relief and the weight lifted in her face. Similar to mine when I heard the same precious words.
There were so many things to consider. Big things like, how she might go about selling her home. So we talked about renovations that would need to be made. Repair this: yes, we can do that. Paint that: no, it looks fine. Knock out a wall and make a room bigger: definitely not. And we discussed the smaller things like, what furniture she would have to take, what she might need to sell, how to sell it and what to get rid of. “If this does really happen,” she said, “I have so much to purge. I keep everything.”
She started to make a mental checklist. Beginning at the top floor of her home, she made her way through each room deciding what she would do with the contents. She made her way through the entire house, out the door to the garage and she stopped there . . . Where the totes are.
Oh, the plethora of totes. Totes full of clothing for her four boys that were either given to her, were hand me downs, or future garage sale merchandise that have been stored away. Just waiting to be used. These totes have been around a long time. They get pulled out, added to, and taken out for yard sales at least once a year. She knew she wouldn't want to move all of them. They were heavy and took up a lot of room. And besides, they would just sit somewhere else and wait to be used. But, she was still hesitant to put them in her mental purge pile. Because, “What if?” “What would we do when?” It’s hard to let go of things you've held on to for so long. It’s hard to let go and let God.
“You know," I said, "Holding on to something you don’t need today really says you aren't trusting God to provide it the day you do.” As I shared those words with my friend that day, I could see the relief and the weight lifted in her face. Similar to mine when I heard the same precious words.
“Timely advice is lovely,
like golden apples in a silver basket.”
Proverbs 25:11 || NLT
like golden apples in a silver basket.”
Proverbs 25:11 || NLT
Pause. Though I don’t remember where I first read those wise words, or who said them, I heard them at just the right time. The Voice of Truth was speaking and breathing life into my weary soul at just the right time. I remember reading them and a light came on the moment I did. Hiding those words; the truth in my heart, I began to replace lies with truth.
I’d had a few totes of my own stored up. I would pull them out, or take something out or add to them every once in a while, and then put them back, deep into my heart. All nicely organized, color coordinated no less, with labels that said:
I’d had a few totes of my own stored up. I would pull them out, or take something out or add to them every once in a while, and then put them back, deep into my heart. All nicely organized, color coordinated no less, with labels that said:
These totes of mine, they had been around a long time. And I honestly thought by storing them up, I was protecting myself. I thought they kept me safe from harm. I thought my “what if’s” were acceptable. Just.in.case. And my “but when,” justified my reasons to hold onto my totes. But they were heavy. And I was tired. I was so weary. And I didn’t have room for them anymore.
When He said, “Come.” Bring me your totes.
When He said, “Come.” Bring me your totes.
And not only did I feel heavy, I felt conviction in holding on, storing and toting up. I knew it was time to let go and make room for Jesus. I knew the truth in those words, “Holding on says I really don’t trust God.” And I was ready to trust Him. With my hurts, with my fears, and with my whole heart wide open. So I laid those heavy totes down His feet. And the promise was fulfilled. I’ve never been so free and light.
A few short weeks after that morning on the porch with my friend, she and her husband made their decision to move. Dreams were about to become reality. Faith in full swing. And a few weeks after that I found myself helping her purge. Having that final yard sale. And those totes from her garage, along with so many other things came out with ease. They.are.gone. What was once held on to for so long, for someday--just in case--is gone. Gone, because she doesn’t need them today. Gone, because she’s trusting the Lord to provide for her when someday comes.
And He wants to do the same for you. He says, “Come.”
A few short weeks after that morning on the porch with my friend, she and her husband made their decision to move. Dreams were about to become reality. Faith in full swing. And a few weeks after that I found myself helping her purge. Having that final yard sale. And those totes from her garage, along with so many other things came out with ease. They.are.gone. What was once held on to for so long, for someday--just in case--is gone. Gone, because she doesn’t need them today. Gone, because she’s trusting the Lord to provide for her when someday comes.
And He wants to do the same for you. He says, “Come.”
Listen, He is speaking.
Believe, He will provide.
Come, He will lighten your load.
--That’s a promise--
Believe, He will provide.
Come, He will lighten your load.
--That’s a promise--