You Already Know How to Give It to God
So stop saying you don't know how to
I wrote and delivered a sermon at a preaching workshop a couple of months ago, titled “Let Go and Let God For Dummies”.
I presented three points to keep in mind when faced with a highly stressful situation, intending to finally give people the answer to "how do I give this to God?”
I’ve made edits to my notes since then, but I think the original points were along the lines of deepened hunger, God seeing the bigger picture, and focusing on who God is.
As the last few months have been trial by fire, I’ve been reminded of my three points, and I don’t think I was too far off. However, COMMA, I had this epiphany the other day:
We already know how to let our troubles go to the Lord. The real issue is overcoming the barriers to actually doing it.
Loosening our grip
We tend to label the things we love most as non-negotiables—as things we simply can’t afford to lose.
That’s why surrender feels like a fight. When something feels close to us, it can start to feel bigger than God. What we cling to the tightest, we’re often the most reluctant to release.
Whenever I notice myself holding on too tightly—emotionally gripping something with all I’ve got—I think of a scene from Law and Order: SVU. Olivia Benson is comforting a distressed young girl who had just lashed out at her sister’s abuser. She sits frozen, knife in hand, stunned by what she’s just done.
But Benson doesn’t rush. She’s gentle. Steady. She quiets the storm of the girl's emotions before softly whispering, “Drop the knife.”
And the girl does. She lets go and collapses into Benson’s arms, sobbing.
Cognitively, the girl knows how to let go. She doesn’t need instructions on how to move her hand. What she does need is to regain a clear sense of awareness—of safety, of presence, of what’s true.
We do know how to surrender hard things. The issue isn’t ability—it’s insecurity. We might not feel safe and secure enough to relinquish authority.
When we’re grappling with Jesus’s words, “Take heart, I have overcome the world,” we sometimes assign more weight to Satan’s lies and the world’s advice than to God’s truth.
One keeps us stuck. The other sets us free.
So when you feel that tight grip on control, on fear, on whatever feels too precious to lose, pause. Breathe.
Remember: you’re not frozen because you don’t know how to let go. You’re frozen because you’ve momentarily forgotten who you can trust.
And like Benson’s gentle whisper, Jesus invites you too: “Drop the knife.”
Not to shame you. Not to expose you. But to hold you.
Let go. Fall into His arms. That’s where freedom begins.
Drinks I’ve been loving
Starbucks iced matcha—just plain, with simple syrup. Couldn’t tell you why it’s been such a craving recently.
Trader Joe’s brown sugar oat milk creamer— a little sweet for me, but I will definitely be getting more and diluting it with regular oat milk in my coffee.
Song of the week
Podcast of the week
Book updates
I’ve slowed down A LOT in reading but my goal this week is to get back into it and finish a book. But, I did order a new one that I am very excited to read and review for you guys!!