How do you start a wide and complex topic like this? Well, I do not have a clue, so I would just start by sharing aspects of my own life and experiences (1 Thessalonians 2:8). I once heard my Pastor ask this question, “Do you know what sends people mad?” Well, I found this question to be very interesting and given the tumultuous world that we live in where many persons are on knife’s edge, I needed to hear the answer. So, I perched myself at the edge of my seat to listen for his response.

Do you know what the answer was? Simple as this, “The inability to let go!”. When he stated this, the inner me was stunned, and I silently blurted out the catch phrase, “Whatcha talkin’ bout Willis?”. My Pastor continued to expound on the concept by giving examples of where the inability to let go of things can literally break us and has in the past, broken many.

I can recall a time when I was going through something intensely painful and troubling in my life and where for a brief moment while driving, I felt like my mind was losing it. All I can say is, it is a fine line people, it is a very fine line. But thanks be to God, in that same moment, the Holy Spirit brought something my dad once told me into remembrance (John 14:26). Let us just say, that daddy’s statement echoing in my ear brought me back from the deep abyss.

In a split second, the statement my dad always repeated to me, allowed me to put things into perspective and instantly. I could let go of what I was holding unto, before it was too late. Others in time past were not so lucky, because they allowed their thoughts to get the better of them and the whisperings of the one who comes to steal, kill and destroy (John 10:10). Sometimes you have to be careful of the whispers because their decibels can be deep and deafening. This is why God’s word says in Philippians 4:8.

“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things”

Just a few days ago, I was on LinkedIn where a colleague of mine who was retrenched about five years ago was boasting about the struggles of losing his job, but he let go and focused on starting a new business. Now the business is thriving, and he currently employs 7 workers. I felt so proud of him and his newfound success as an entrepreneur.

Can you imagine what would have happened if my colleague simply held onto his job loss and began lamenting on every shoulder he could cry on? In time, shoulders would have gotten heavy and so would have his heart. This inability to let go, would have made him stagnant and planted in the current state. He would have been caught in paralysis, and making the standard cliché statements, “Lord, why me?”. To which God could equally ask, “Why not you?”, or “If not you, then who?”.

I want us to know that growth not only comes from getting, but growth also comes from giving (giving up things). Abraham’s faith grew because he had the ability to let go of the one thing he held very dear, his only son Isaac (Génesis 22). Abraham was greatly blessed because his sacrifice showed the Heavenly Father that nothing was too hard to do for Him. One of the best things we can do when letting go, is to let go of something, which in turn makes God pleased.

Just as Abraham had to weigh the pros and the cons then make a significant sacrifice, in like manner we would have to do the same thing at various stages of our lives. This is just the natural way of things. Actually, the most successful people I know are the ones who in the face of adversity and hardship had the ability to detach and move into the next stage which God was carrying them. Letting go is not primarily about giving up, but sadly this is how most of us view it. Letting go is ALL about putting yourself in a state of readiness to gain. It is about moving forward with the right perspective and mindset.

I am sure everyone who will ever read this blog, can sit back in their chair after reading and identify at least one thing they need to let go of in order to improve their lives. Letting go is like walking into a room in your house that is filled with junk and saying to yourself, “It’s time to declutter this”.

Today, I am asking someone to walk into their mind and search out that one thing/thought pattern which has held you in bondage for so long and kept you from growing and moving forward. This exercise might call for some deep soul searching, but if soul searching is needed, then soul searching it must be.

Look back and evaluate what has happened during the time you have been holding unto, what you have been holding unto. It could be a person who caused you hurt, losing a spouse or loved one, losing a job or some tangible thing of benefit, a vice or addiction, or it could also be a way of thinking/attitude you have which produces undesired behaviours that affects others; the list can be many.  

Ask yourself, how has holding onto these things served you? Or looked at another way, was it serving you or were you serving it? I think most times it is the latter, where we were the servants and it was our cruel Master. Today, I encourage someone to break free from what has been a cruel Slave Master to you for so long. I dare you to break from your bondage and endeavour to, “Let Go and Gain!”

Remember, things that are out of your hands, should also be out of your minds

PS: Dane Miller was last seen walking into a room with a broom.

Your Brother in the Lord,

Dane Miller | Author

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