Falling into the Stillness

Be still, and know that I am God! PSALM 46:10 NLT 

Have you ever been to a playground and watched a parent coaxing their child to let go of their grip on the monkey bars they’re hanging from? The parent stands ready to catch them without fail, but to the child, holding on to the bar still feels more secure than letting go, no matter how much they trust Mom or Dad. No one likes to risk falling, even if they know a pair of loving arms is there to catch them. 

When God tells us to be still, He’s essentially telling us to let go. He’s asking us to let go of the control-grip we have on our lives. He’s asking us to pray about everything and wait patiently for the answers. He’s asking us to release our lives into His loving arms, where we’re always held safely and securely. 

But sometimes we like to hold on to the solution we have to our problem a little longer, just in case we can do it without God’s help. And we like to hang tight for a little while in our troubling circumstances to see if they shift, just in case we don’t need to bother God with the details. Why is it hard for us to let go and let God be who He is? He’s a loving Father who will never fail us. And when suffering does come, when days are difficult, when we need to feel loved and comforted, aren’t His arms the best place to be? 

Let’s devote today to letting go. Let’s revel in falling carelessly into the loving arms of God. It’s going to feel great to relax our grip on everything that’s trying to shake our trust and shatter our peace. We’re going to be held close. We’re going to be held steady. We’re going to know without a doubt that we’re wrapped in a love that will never change or loosen its grip on our lives—all while we’re learning to love the lack of control. 

Dear God, Hold me in Your everlasting love and give me peace in knowing that letting go is the only way to let You have first place in my life. 

This is an excerpt from The Campfire is Calling: 90 Warming Devotions for the Simple Life – a devotional now available on DaySpring.com. Shop all books, journals, and devotions from DaySpring here.