Today I watched my 11-month-old son “hang” from the living room couch because his little legs were too short to reach the ground. Having figured out the right way to get down, he skillfully maneuvered to make the descent. With his body still clinging to the couch, supported by all the strength he could muster in his tiny forearms, he slowly released himself. His goal was to ensure his feet touched ground before letting go. And that was the issue – the ground was too far away.

I could see his feet were just a inch or two from the ground, and that he would land safely if he let go. But he could not see this, and so he would not let go for a while. Eventually, either because he ran out of strength in his arms or felt the tip of his foot touch the ground, he let go and landed without any mishap, just as I knew he would. I wonder how long he would have stayed there if he had the strength or if he never came close enough to the ground for comfort.

Sometimes, our experiences in life mirror my son’s situation, albeit with much higher stakes. You know you need to leave a job; you are frustrated and unproductive and all the advice you have heard and applied is not working. But leaving a job without finding another (or better) one is uncomfortable. Bills don’t pay themselves and you reason it is better to be frustrated than to go hungry. Maybe the stakes for you are different. Maybe it is the prestige of having a job or the little pleasures that your income allows you to afford. Either way, you need your little toe to touch the ground before you make your move.

It could also be a relationship you need to walk away from, one that is full of deceit and mistrust or violence and oppression. You’ve spoken to your partner and they are either unrepentant or repeatedly making false promises to change. You know your life, your health (mental or physical), and your future are at risk. But you are hopeful that you can salvage this one, or you are scared of being alone and facing the stigma and shame that comes with the choice you need to make. You’re looking for a soft landing – a situation that makes the decision easier.

I invite you to take your destiny in your hands and trust God for strength to pull through. I invite you to let go. No journey worth the while has ever started without unknown risks. The uncertainties in our lives are part of what makes life worth living. If your commit your fears to God and make those bold choices, you will find a new reality on the other side. If you don’t let go, you will never see what God can do. The key is to commit your ways to Him, telling Him your fears and trusting He has your back. You will land with two feet on solid ground, becoming even better in the process. May you never lack the strength to let go!

Thanks for coming by today. See you in the next post!

P.S. : I had hoped to write a very short post today. But look where we are 🙂