Let Go of the Grip
"For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them" - Matthew 6:32
There is a tightness that comes with worry. You feel it in your chest. In your shoulders. In your jaw. It shows up when you are gripping life too hard, convinced that if you just hold on tighter, things will finally come together. But that grip is not strength. It is fear dressed up as control. And Jesus says the only way to truly loosen it is through surrender.
You can shift your perspective all you want. You can write verses on sticky notes and try to talk yourself down in stressful moments. But until you lay your struggles at the feet of God and actually let Him carry them, worry will keep sneaking in through the back door. Jesus does not just invite you to look at the birds or admire the flowers. He invites you to trust that the same God who cares for them cares even more for you.
He drives the point home with a question. If God takes care of grass that’s here today and gone tomorrow, don’t you think He will do even more for you? You can either nod your head or let that truth hit your heart. He knows what you need. You do not have to live like someone without a Provider.
But the truth is, most of us trust in our own ability far more than we trust in God’s care. That is where the problem starts. We believe in Him, but we bet on ourselves. We try to handle it. Manage it. Solve it. And when we finally hit the wall, then we consider asking God to step in.
What if you flipped that? What if your first move was surrender? Not waving a white flag because you lost. But handing things over because you finally trust the One who never does. Your security is not found in your capacity. It is found in God's care. And the sooner you let go, the lighter your heart will feel.
Stop gripping life so hard and start giving it to the One who already knows exactly what you need.
There is a tightness that comes with worry. You feel it in your chest. In your shoulders. In your jaw. It shows up when you are gripping life too hard, convinced that if you just hold on tighter, things will finally come together. But that grip is not strength. It is fear dressed up as control. And Jesus says the only way to truly loosen it is through surrender.
You can shift your perspective all you want. You can write verses on sticky notes and try to talk yourself down in stressful moments. But until you lay your struggles at the feet of God and actually let Him carry them, worry will keep sneaking in through the back door. Jesus does not just invite you to look at the birds or admire the flowers. He invites you to trust that the same God who cares for them cares even more for you.
He drives the point home with a question. If God takes care of grass that’s here today and gone tomorrow, don’t you think He will do even more for you? You can either nod your head or let that truth hit your heart. He knows what you need. You do not have to live like someone without a Provider.
But the truth is, most of us trust in our own ability far more than we trust in God’s care. That is where the problem starts. We believe in Him, but we bet on ourselves. We try to handle it. Manage it. Solve it. And when we finally hit the wall, then we consider asking God to step in.
What if you flipped that? What if your first move was surrender? Not waving a white flag because you lost. But handing things over because you finally trust the One who never does. Your security is not found in your capacity. It is found in God's care. And the sooner you let go, the lighter your heart will feel.
Stop gripping life so hard and start giving it to the One who already knows exactly what you need.
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What Are You Hiding From?Where Worry GrowsWhere Security Really Comes FromChange What You’re Looking AtAnswer the Right QuestionsWhere Are You Looking?Go to the Right WellLet Go of the GripQuit Trying to Outmuscle WorryRunning on EmptyWhen “Lord” is Just a WordDig Deeper Before the StormWhen the Work Feels Too HardThe Slow Work That LastsWhat Were You ThinkingDo You Trust Him?Not Everything Sweet is SafeSay It or Show ItMore Than a NameThe Weight Behind the WordsThe Cost of CommitmentMore Than Good IntentionsThe Neighbor You’re BecomingWhat Are You Known ForSlow Down and See ThemEyes to See, Time to StopWhat Comes FirstMercy Moves
2 Comments
This is exactly what I needed this morning. Thanks Pastor Pete.
Thank you. Seeing the written word helps me focus on The Word.