My daughter and I went for a long drive. The weather was absolutely beautiful so I didn’t want to miss a single moment of it. I decided to take her cruising through the old neighbourhood. I suppose you could call it a drive down memory lane.
We used to live in an old character home. The bottom half of the exterior was butter-cream and the top half was covered in brick-red cedar shingles. We took good care of the property including the grape vines that enclosed the back yard and the raspberry bushes that snuggled up against the back shed. I used to spend hours on end digging and planting and pulling up weeds. In fact I spent more time outside than I ever did in. The yard was small, but we’d often throw a blanket down on the grass, and have a picnic or toss a ball with the kids.
It’s since been painted bright yellow, the front yard is covered with junk, and the entire place is over grown with weeds.
It’s the kind of yard you look at and say, “What happened here?!” under your breath.
But the thing is that it’s not my home any more, and as difficult as it might be sometimes, I have to let go. I have to accept the fact that someone else is sitting on my front steps and baking bread in my kitchen.
Letting go can be one of the most difficult steps that we take in our lives. Letting go of a house is fairly easy, but letting go of a job or a friendship? That’s an incredible challenge.
A few years ago, I got to wondering “Is there something wrong with me? Why do I have broken friendships? Is this common?”
As the days passed by, I started to notice that it wasn’t just me. We live in a broken world in which we lose things that we desperately want to hang on to.
Single people know what the sting of a breakup can feel like. You’re at the top of the world one day and the next you’re left feeling like the biggest loser on earth.
Married people? We’re losers too. I’ve lost children to miscarriage, I’ve lost close friends, I’ve lost jobs, I’ve lost a church community, I’ve lost my dad, and I felt the sting of loss when my oldest son moved out on his own. Ouch. Life can be messy. Letting go can be hard.
But I’ve learned something that’s given me hope: It’s easy to hang on to the things that we are familiar with, but it takes courage to walk in faith.
God blessed me with this incredible __________ in the past, but will I be so “lucky” next time?
Here’s the thing… it’s not about “luck” is it? The same God that’s been faithful to you in the past will be just as faithful to you in the future. Amen?
Don’t put your hope in the gift, put your hope in the giver.
Hang onto that truth and carry it with you into the darkness.
I’m not suggesting that you let go of a bad marriage in hopes that God will give you a better one. What I am saying is that if you are in that place of discouragement trust God with your future. Believe in the power of His goodness and grace.
Are you courageous enough to let go of the worry? Are you brave enough to let go of discouragement and move forward in faith?
Matin Luther King Jr. once wrote, “Faith is taking the first step even when you can’t see the whole staircase.”
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. – Hebrews 11:1
Of course there are some losses that take a lifetime to overcome. I couldn’t even begin to understand that kind of pain, and I would never assume you could just “let it go.” But I do know that God is faithful and that He is the source of all joy.
In closing I want to share this beautiful reminder of God’s love,
To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified. – Isaiah 61:3
You are loved by an almighty God,
Darlene Schacht
The Time-Warp Wife
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I needed this reminder very badly as I sit here waiting on God. I trust him but discouragement does come. I thank you for today’s post, what a reminder.
I needed this as well today. Seems I am forever letting go. Memories haunt me, regrets pull at my heart strings, but through and through God has been faithful. Each ending is met with a new beginning. Each passage and season of life drawing me deeper and deeper to the one thing that will never let me go…God. Yes, He is faithful, as I stand in faith and try with all my might to trust His will, His plan. Our lives are a tapestry , His tapestry, I am but clay in the potter, artist, hands. God bless you for sharing. I let go, let God, let good.
So beautifully said, Deborah!
I really needed to see this today too! I have had so many changes in my life in the past 3 years! It’s really been an adjustment for me! and not an easy one either… I finally got married to my hubby almost 3 years now! I was 41 at the time…..So I waited a long time for God to send him to me! While I was waiting though I was a single mother raising my son by myself from birth until he graduated high school. I got married 1 month after my son graduated high school! I ended up selling our house to go live at my husbands home. I have had a hard time letting go of (our) home being sold. (Mine and my sons) I guess its all those memories that we have had there. Then last year my son left to go into the military….which I am so proud of him! I find myself riding by our old home so often and wishing I still had it! I am very sentimental as my old home was built on land that had been passed down to me from my Great Grandmother! I find myself thinking that if anything ever happened to my son and I lost him that I could never go back to our old home and just sit in his room and remember all of our time together there. I know I need to let go! I know God has put me where he wants me to be! and I am so grateful for my husband! and we are planning to build a new home together! I just have to let God work his plan in my life! and I just have to be patient and let him work it all out! Thank you for encouraging me!
I have been asking God for guidance in this very matter and he put you in my path! One of the things I struggle with most is fear and for me change =fear! I am possibly facing some huge changes in the next year and choices/decisions will have to be made and I am scared to death. This post is exactly what I needed to read to remind me not to fear but to trust my giver, that the blessings I have had in the past will also be in my future. And is time they may be even bigger and better. Thank you so much God for your timely word and for sending it through Darlene! amen
Darlene~ I love your writing style and the words of wisdom. God blessed me through your article. Thanks for sharing this!
The last four nights have been the longest I have had in many days. I am in the verge of losing something I treasure so so sooo much. I have been trying to hold on to it a lil’ longer yet I know fully well I need to let it go and let God work it out for me. I am now encouraged to trust the Giver. There is nothing as beautiful as receiving His very choice for me. Taking that step of faith; one at a time. Very timely article this one!
I’m so glad that God sent comfort when you needed it.