Thursday, February 27, 2014

The Power of Release

Submitted by Lara Cook

Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth does not become weary or tired. His understanding is inscrutable.
Isaiah 40:28.

I just love the wording of this verse. I don’t know of any words ever spoken that could be more comforting than those in the verse above.  .Do you not know?  Have you not heard?  It seems as if it is saying What are you thinking?  Why are you so distraught?  You know better than this!  It is like something I would say to my kids.  Why are you so upset?  You know this! THIS IS NOTHING NEW!
It is funny how fast we forget when we are faced with adversity and trials.  We have heard it before, some of us our whole lives, yet in an instant we can panic and our faith goes to nothing.  We hear the pastor preach it, the Sunday school and Bible Study leaders teach it, and we even speak it on a regular basis, to others, our children and ourselves.  But when the time comes to really believe it; sometimes it is just downright hard. 

Part of the problem is that we often react to life rather than respond.  Our emotions seem to take over and our reasoning ability goes out the window.  It is human instinct to react, and often irrationally, when things go crazy, when the unexpected happens, or the dreaded expected thing really does happen after all.  In that moment it is so hard to remember that the Everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth has everything under control.  Everything feels so out of control but that is not the truth.  Our perception is nowhere near His reality. 

The Power of Release
Have you ever been on one of those kicks where you just rip through your house, cleaning out closets, cabinets, and drawers and throwing stuff away?  It is such an empowering and freeing feeling to me to get rid of stuff.  Sometimes it is “stuff” I have held onto for a long time thinking I would use it or that I might need it someday.  I have had those moments in regard to my faith in God too.  There have been times, not as many as there should have been, but a few times that I have actually released something that was burdening me into God’s hands.  What a great feeling!  Then, the feeling I got when I actually saw Him working things out was even more amazing.  There is so much power in just handing it over to God who does not become weary or tired, especially when I am so very tired by the “stuff” I am carrying.  Not only can He carry it for me, but He works it out for my good.  He loves me and has my best interest in mind and He is exponentially better at problem solving than I am. 
Yes, the Everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth is in control of my life.  Does that mean I will never have any pain and suffering?  Does that mean I will never have any financial hardships or trials of any kind?  Absolutely not.  It just means I have someone who loves me and is there waiting to take my “stuff” and carry it for me.  He is there with inscrutable understanding, with an action plan to make all things work together for good.  It is so hard to trust Him sometimes.  It is so hard to release all my “stuff” into His hands.  It is easy to throw my hands up in the air and cry and fall apart.  He understands that too and He waits patiently for me to stop and release it to Him.

Scripture to Claim:

And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.  Romans 8:28

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