He Holds What You've Let Go - Your Nightly Prayer - October 7th
He Holds What You've Let Go
Your Nightly Prayer
by Rachel Wojo, Host of the Untangling Prayer podcast
TONIGHT'S SCRIPTURE
"Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this." - Psalm 37:5
SOMETHING TO PONDER
Something is terrifying about loosening our grip. Whether it's a relationship that's struggling, a financial situation that feels impossible, a health concern that keeps us awake, or a child we can't control, letting go sometimes feels like giving up. But tonight, I want to remind you of one incredible truth: when you let go, God doesn't let go.
My friend, Diane, was struggling with her teenage son's choices. For months, she had tried everything. She was taking away privileges, monitoring his every move, and found herself arguing late into the night about his grades and friends. She researched parenting strategies, called counselors, and even considered switching schools. But the harder she gripped, the more he pulled away, and the more exhausted she became.
One evening, after another heated argument that ended with slammed doors, she sat in her kitchen feeling completely defeated. That's when she finally whispered the words she'd been afraid to say: "God, I can't control him anymore. I'm letting go." It wasn't giving up on her son; it was giving up the illusion that she could force him to make good choices.
The transformation didn't happen overnight. Her son didn't suddenly become an honor student or start making perfect decisions. But something shifted in their relationship when she stopped trying to be his controller and started being his prayer warrior. She began to notice small changes she'd been too busy managing to see before. They experienced a conversation that didn't end in an argument. She gloried in a moment when he asked for her advice. Peace came when she remembered that God loved her son even more than she did. She held on to the fact that God’s plans for her boy were better than any she could orchestrate.
One time, as a little girl, I tried to move a rock that was way too heavy for me, and my brother came along to help me, and he rolled the rock away. That's the picture behind the word "commit" in Psalm 37:5. It literally means to roll something heavy off of yourself onto someone else. Committing your way to the Lord isn't about trying harder; it's about rolling that impossible weight off your shoulders and onto His.
Maybe tonight you're carrying the weight of a marriage that feels broken beyond repair. Perhaps you're gripping tightly to a job situation that's causing you anxiety, or you're trying to control a grown child's choices that are breaking your heart. Maybe it's medical bills that keep growing, or dreams that seem to be slipping away despite your best efforts.
God's promise in this verse isn't just that He'll take what you give Him; it's that He'll actually do something about it. "He will do this." Not might. Not if you're good enough. He will act on your behalf when you release control to Him.
But here's what I've learned about letting go: it's not a one-time event. It's a daily, sometimes hourly, even moment-by-moment choice. Just like my friend, Diane, had to keep releasing her grip on her son’s situation, you may find yourself picking up that burden again tomorrow morning. That's okay. God's grace is patient with our learning process.
The beautiful promise of Scripture is that God holds what we let go. His hands are bigger than ours, His perspective is picture perfect, and His love for the people and situations we're worried about is even deeper than our own.
Will you pray with me?
YOUR NIGHTLY PRAYER
Heavenly Father,
You see what I've been holding onto so tightly. You know the burdens I've been carrying that were never meant for my shoulders. Tonight, I roll these heavy weights off of myself and onto You. Whether my struggling relationships, my financial fears, my health concerns, my children's choices, or my uncertain future, I commit them all to You. Help me to trust that Your hands are better than mine, that Your timing is perfect, and that You love the people and situations I'm worried about even more than I do. When I'm tempted to take control back tomorrow, remind me of this moment of surrender. Thank you for letting go; it's not giving up, it's giving you room to work.
In Jesus' name,
Amen.
THREE THINGS TO MEDITATE UPON
1. God's Faithful Hands: When have you had to trust someone else with something precious to you? Maybe it was in the operating room or the classroom. Remember how capable hands gave you peace. God's hands are infinitely more capable and loving than any human hands.
2. A Promise You Can Stand On: Recall a specific promise from God's Word that speaks to your current situation. Maybe it's His promise to provide, to heal, to restore, or to work all things together for good. His promises are not dependent on your ability to make them happen. Thankfully, they rest on His faithfulness alone.
3. The Weight You're Not Carrying: What if you woke up tomorrow without the crushing weight of trying to control your circumstances? Feel the lightness of knowing that Someone more powerful and loving than you is handling what you cannot. This isn't wishful thinking; it's the reality of surrender.
Friend, we hope you grasp this: God doesn't just catch what you let go; He transforms it. Your surrender becomes His opportunity to show His power and love in ways you never could have orchestrated on your own.
Thank you for joining us tonight. We hope this prayer has encouraged your heart. If you're learning to trust God with the things you cannot control, we invite you to check out Rachel's beautiful NEW Praying the Promises of God Prayer Journal—a 52-week guided journal that will help you discover and pray God's promises over every area of your life. Check out a sample at promisesprayerjournal.com. Until next time, remember, God holds what you've let go, and His hands never fail.
Photo Credit: ©iStock/Getty Images Plus/Patrick Daxenbichler
If you're looking for guidance on deepening your prayer life in tough times, I invite you to check out my new book, Desperate Prayers: Embracing the Power of Prayer in Life's Darkest Moments. You'll find real-life stories, prayers, and practical ways to connect with God when you need Him most. You can learn more at desperateprayers.com.
Now that you've prayed, are you in need of someone to pray for YOU? Click the button below!
