hold on

a poem about holding on and letting go in the Christian walk

it's hard to hold on
in the letting go
it's the holding back
of what i want to hold

it's the give and take
the ups and downs
the twists and turns

you’re in them somehow

help me to hold on
to what is in your will
release my hold on
any ungodly joy i feel

i long to let go of the things
keeping me from you
to hide under your wings
and find my rest in you

---

About

The process of sanctification, the progressive work of God that grows us in Christlikeness as we walk in obedience to God’s commands, involves identifying the things in life we are to hold on to or let go of. To live the Christian life is to live a life of sacrifice. As Jesus came to sacrifice His life on the cross, we too must sacrifice in our lives, denying ourselves daily for the sake of following Him.

Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul?” - Matthew 16:25-26

It can be easy to fall into patterns of holding onto a sense of control of the way that we want things to go in life. Yet the reality is, sometimes the way we are trying to direct things to go is not in alignment with God’s will. And when the Holy Spirit convicts of this, we can pray to Him and ask for help in surrendering more fully to the direction of the Lord, the ultimate establisher of our steps.

The heart of man plans his way,  but the Lord establishes his steps. - Proverbs 16:9

Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand. - Proverbs 19:21

A man's steps are from the Lord; how then can man understand his way? - Proverbs 20:24

No wisdom, no understanding, no counsel can avail against the Lord. - Proverbs 21:30

The Lord’s ways are perfect; ours are definitely not! He is patiently guiding us as we learn to let go of the things He calls us to so we can cling more tightly to Him.

Prayer

Lord,

Bring to my awareness and help me to let go of anything in my life that is hindering me from following You more fully. Search my heart, for You know it! Only You can lead me in the way everlasting.

Amen.

---