Letting Go

There is an old story about a man who fell off a cliff and managed to grab an outcrop on the way down. Hanging there, he looks up and calls out: Is anyone up there?

A voice booms down. I am here. I am the Lord. Do you believe in me?

Yes, Lord. I believe. I really believe. But I can't hang on much longer.

You have nothing to worry about. I will save you. Just let go.

A long pause. Then: Is there anyone else up there?

It's a funny story. And it's also uncomfortably true.

Most of us believe — in some sense. But letting go? That's a different thing entirely.

Somewhere along the way, life has a way of making this unavoidably clear: there is far more going on than we can see or control. We don't know what tomorrow holds. We barely know what the next hour holds. And no matter how hard we grip — how much we plan, manage, strategize, worry — so much remains completely out of our hands.

And at some point, most of us arrive at the same place. If there is a way forward, we are going to have to trust something — or Someone — larger than ourselves.

That's not weakness. That's honesty.

The Psalmist puts it simply: Lead me to the Rock that is higher than I.

Prayer: O God, we want to trust you. We know we can't make it on our own for very long. We need you. So help us today — help us loosen our grip, and trust that our lives are held in your hands. Give us hearts that are open to your leading. Help us trust. And in trusting, follow. Through Jesus Christ, our Rock and our Redeemer. Amen.