Let Go

I had the amazing opportunity to attend the Women of Faith Conference a few weekends ago.  It was SOOO good!  If you every have the chance to go to one... G.O.  Seriously.. it's just a great chance to worship with other women, to be encouraged, and inspired, to laugh, and sometimes cry.   Our speakers this year were  Patsy Clairmont, Lisa Welchel (Blair from the Facts of Life!), Marilyn Meberg, Shelia Walsh (the 700 club!), Lisa Harper, and then music by the worship team, Mandisa, and Steven Curtis Chapman.

I could write MANY posts about how good it was, about each of the speakers topics, about SCC singing and sharing about losing his little girl and about God's goodness and grace carrying his family through, about Mandisa's testimony... on and on..   But what stuck most with me was Shelia Walsh's sharing.

I won't be able to do her story justice here...  she shared from the heart about a financial struggle that her family went through in the past 3 years or so that almost tore them apart.  Her husband hadn't been honest and had gone through lots of money and had spent all they had.  They were on the brink of losing everything including their marriage.  Shelia was so bitter.  She had given up on her husband, and their marriage.  In her words, winter descended on their house and stayed for about a year.

Through some amazing counseling, and some honest heart to heart sharing with her son, she began to hear God speak to her.  To let her know that He was going to get her through.  She went for a long walk one night and finally felt herself letting go of the control and letting God take over.  She felt the burden lift from her.  She let go.

Ooohhhh, I'm so good at that!  Not letting go, but holding on!  I hold on to memories, stories, my past, grudges, anger, hurts,... I have an iron fist that can hold on for a long time.  I can worry about my family, our future plans, even about things that I have NO control over (as if I have any control over any of it!)  

What do you hold on to?  Being lonely? having someone hurt you badly? Feeling not good enough?  Not smart enough?  Wanting to control everything?  Your finances?  Your home?  Your kids?   Your husband?  We need to let go girls...  We need to give these things to God

Do not be anxious about anything but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 
Philippians 4:6-7 

Shelia says that by praying to God and then worrying over them again, it's like saying, "thanks God, but I"m pretty sure you can't help me. You can't do the job I asked you to."  Would we say this?  Ah, no.  At least not in words but our actions sure do.  

The thing is...  when we hold on to our... stuff, we just hurt more, we do not have peace, we are not happy.  We are constantly living in a place of sadness, heartache, discontent,_____________- you fill in the blank  I'm working on letting go of my junk.  It's a process.  Just when I think I'm through with it- I take it back again...  And you know what else?  I have lots of different kinds of junk! :)  One in particular though...  the hurt of a loss in my life.  I want to let go and have peace.  For once and for all.   God knows the plans he has for me.  He KNOWS them and they are for GOOD.  This conference was healing for me.  I needed to have that told to me again. I can't control things. I just need to let go.

If I could, I would so get Shelia's message and have a girls night and play it for all of you.  We ALL need to hear it!  But since I can't, please read this with an open heart.  Take some time to pray about what you need to let go of. Give it to God, and then be patient, knowing that He hears you.  He does.  

And, as always, if you would like us to pray for you, feel free to email us.  We love you!

Shan

P.S.- Don't forget Sunday is our last day to sign up for Stepping Up!  We want you to be a part of that awesome journey!