The Beauty of Letting Go(D)

 Sometimes, pictures say it better than I know how.....

The freedom I'm finding in surrender is unreal. Don't get me wrong, it's always a struggle to live in that freedom-space. And will be for the rest of my life. But when I stay there for a while? Oh, wow. I don't think there's a more peaceful feeling than just truly stepping back, and allowing God to remind you of His promises, and allowing them to truly take up residency in your life. 

Right now, I'm finding freedom in my surrender. Ironic? Maybe. But I am, and I guess that only makes sense since it's also promised I'll find life in death.

I'm finding freedom to live out what God has for me in the present, rather than worrying about the future and torturing myself over my past failures. I'm finding freedom in believing that God can do anything through me, and giving Him that permission and open invitation.  I'm slowly learning how to really grab hold of this as an exciting mystery rather than a scary unknown.

I'm finding freedom from what other people think of me and where I'm at in life. It's so peaceful to really take a step back and realize my life is all for The Audience of One. And that means quite frankly, God's callings and assignments on my life are nobody's business but mine. And just as frankly, it's none of my business what other people think of those callings and assignments. All that matters is that I know I'm walking in confident, humble obedience to Him. Regardless of what it looks like. Some people He sent out to far away lands, and some He told to go home and testify there as to what He's done. Either way I am, we are all, to GO. The important thing to know isn't so much where you go, but what you will do once you get there. Because regardless of where you go, God's call looks the same any place when it's being answered effectively. And by His grace, deep down, I care a little less every day about where He has me go and who He has me go to.  As long as He goes first, cause I have to be wherever He's at.

I'm also finding freedom from fear. As scary as the unknown can be, surrender is the most refreshing and enlightening place I think I've ever been. Because surrender makes me face the truth I'd have to deal with anyways. The truth that I don't have all the answers, the truth that my control was an illusion, and safety was a terrible lie I feel for. There is little-to-nothing about Abundant Life that is tame or predictable. 

But the reckoning of all these things only points me closer to Jesus. Freedom in the present draws me into what Christ is doing now, in this moment. I see the details of life when I slow down. Freedom from what others think of me (good, bad, in between) keeps me humbled and focused. And I find freedom from fear by letting my faith and confidence in God be bigger than my fear. My trust is bigger than my nagging questions. I don't have the answers, but He does.  He IS My Answer. And my Truth. And He sets me Free.