To Soar, We Must First Leg Go

Surrender rarely comes easily. I like to feel as if I'm in control, heading toward a definite destination, and I especially like to know where I'll land once I finally get there. But I've found, the more I fight for control, the more my desires and fears and situation begins to control me. To soar--to thrive--I need to first let go.

When my daughter was young she and I spent hours at the park searching for “blow flowers.” At first, she was drawn to colorful flowers, but they soon bored her. Seeded dandelions, on the other hand, offered hours of entertainment.  She’d bring the soft tufts to her lips, laughing as they tickled her nose, before releasing her most forceful blow. Then, she’d hurl the stem behind her and chase after the seeds with squeals and giggles.

Often as I sit in God’s presence, I’m reminded of those relaxed carefree days and those seeds drifting on the wind. How I long to be so weightless, so in-tune to my Heavenly Father, that I drift effortlessly on His will. Many times I’ve repeated the words Jesus spoke in the Garden of Gethsemane, “Not my will, but Thine be done.”

But all too often I resemble those bright flowers with roots clinging to the soil. “Look at me!” they call, as they sway in the breeze. But then I consider this: the dandelion must die in order for its seeds to take flight. The petals, which once clung securely to the stalk, need to let go, allowing the steady flow of the wind to carry them where so ever it will.

The same is true of us. In order to fly, we must first die: To our dreams, our ambitions, our will. But like that carefree seedling drifting on the wind; that is where we find abundant life.

We know this intellectually, so why do we cling so tightly to the stalk, begging God to do things our way and in our timing?

Maybe because we don’t truly understand the love of God. He who emptied Himself for us, who allowed men to stretch His arms upon the cross, who created our inmost being and numbers the hairs on our head says, “Let go. Let me carry you. Rest in Me.”

But He won’t rip us from the soil. To be carried, we must first let go.

“The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit” (John 3:8, NIV).

Let's talk about this! What is got asking you to release? How might surrendering to Him bring peace and freedom and help you thrive? 

Speaking of thriving, I encourage you to come to one of our Wholly Loved events where you'll gain the tools and inspiration to move from fear to faith and embrace godly risks. You can find out more HERE. 

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Oh, and I almost forgot, for those of you who are fiction readers or who like giving Christ-centered gifts to family and friends, I've got fun news! New Hope Publishers is selling all my novels released through them for only $3.99! You can grab them (along with numerous other great titles) HERE.