Read this poem by Faith Mitchner. Imagine this is you speaking:
Just as my child brings his broken toys
with tears
for me to mend,
I took my broken dreams to God
because He was my friend.
But then…instead of leaving Him
in peace
to work alone,
I hung around and tried to help
with ways that were my own.
At last I snatched them back
and cried,
“How could You be so slow?”
“What could I do, My child?” He said.
“You never did let go.”
We want to badly to give it all to God and be instantly fixed. Be truthful, you know you do. I do. But as we both know, it’s not that easy. That’s because, even after we’ve “given” our burdens to Him, we are still living in the bad circumstance. Micca Campbell asked the Lord in Chapter 3, What was the point of giving my burden to God in the first place if He wasn’t going to make it all go away?
She also replies with the answer: The point is when you and I cast our cares on God, we are recognizing that it’s His responsibility to care for us—not ours. At first, the weight is lifted, but oftentimes God doesn’t respond to our need as we think He should. Then we are quick to retrieve the burden. We forget that God is painting on a large canvas. He sees the big picture. We only see what’s happening to us at the moment. God may allow events to come into our lives—good things and bad things, things that make sense and things that don’t. Every one of these incidents serves as part of His plan for our lives.
It’s our job to trust Him, have faith in Him. Cast our cares on Him, and He will care for us. (1 Peter 5:7) Don’t worry about anything, but pray about everything, and we will experience peace. (Philippians 4:6-8) Yep, that’s our job. Cast and don’t worry. Pray. (If someone presses the “That was Easy” button on that one, I’ll smack ya! It’s not easy!)
There’s a question I must ask here. Do we only trust God if He removes the burden or trial? Because He might not. He may not choose to remove the burden, but He will carry the load. (p. 49) And in order for Him to carry the load, we have to let go.
When we do finally choose to let go of our burdens, trials, fears, doubts….and put them in God’s hands, a really cool thing happens. We learn that God is enough. Our faith begins to grow. Our faith begins to grow because we learn that God is enough…not you, not me, but God. And it will keep growing into a strong unshakable faith as long as we continue to trust Him.. As Micca wisely points out in Chapter 3, the way for you and me to have strong faith is to get to know God…Faith comes by knowing God. The more I know Him, the more my faith grows and the easier it is to trust the Lord with my cares.
I have another question for you now. How well do you know God? You might be surprised with the correct answer, because there isn’t one correct answer. That’s the beauty of our Creator. Whether you just met Him today or you’ve known Him your entire life, He’s still there to take care of you. God doesn’t have favorites. What’s available to you are the same promises available to Billy Graham, the Pope, your pastor, you, and me. It doesn’t matter how well you know God, just that you know Him. From whatever point you are currently at, it’s a great place to start. From here on out, you just keep getting to know Him. Open your Bible with a study like this one. Underline your favorite verses. Memorize a few. Practice trusting God by replacing the lies with Truth. And never compare your Bible knowledge or your faith with someone else’s! Enjoy where you are. Get to know the Lord where you are. He will meet you gladly wherever you are. Talk to Him like He’s right there in the room with you…because He is!
Read the following verses and meditate on them a bit:
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” John 3:16-17
The last question I want to ask you is Do you know Jesus?
I have a funny story to tell you. When I was 11 years old, I accepted Christ through a religious television show. I prayed the prayer and asked Jesus into my life. The very next day, I questioned if He really came. Did He accept my invitation? Life certainly wasn’t any better. He didn’t solve my problems the way the lady with a lot of mascara and tears in her eyes said He would. Maybe He RSVPd “No” to me. Over the next 10 years, I bet I invited Jesus into my life 25 times. Then I’d be a bad girl or mess up and figure I wasn’t good enough and He probably left. Wow, was I ever deceived! And one of the reasons I was so deceived is that I never took the time to get to know Him. I just did what the lady on TV told me to do. I did what the preacher told me to do. I prayed that prayer. But after that, I just sat and did nothing. Oh, I believe with all my heart He was there. Ladies, Jesus doesn’t RSVP “No” when we invite Him to the party of our life, but after the invitation, we need to take action by spending time with Him so we can begin to grasp exactly Who He is and all that He is capable of. Then we can begin to experience the power of His presence, the power of His peace, and the power of His ability to conquer our fears. I’ll ask you again, “Do you know Jesus?”
I’m going to extend this week’s challenge. You were challenged on Sunday to thank God for 3 things. Then to give God 3 burdens. Now I want to challenge you to leave them there. Let go. Let go and Let God.
*If you accepted Christ today as a result of this message, please let me know so I can be praying for you. Our team would be honored to walk beside you on your faith journey. If you recommitted your life to Christ, let us know that too. And if you have any questions or need to talk about it, please call our Proverbs 31 Office and talk to me. 877-731-4663. Or you can email Online Bible Studies at MelissaTaylorQuestions@gmail.com. Someone from our team will respond to you.
And for you ladies who have that strong faith, tell us why you have it! The rest of us need your encouragement 
Leave all comments in the comment section.
I can’t wait to hear from all of you!
Let go and Let God.
Love,
Melissa
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I have to add a “funny” object lesson God gave me this am while sitting in the lobby of my 4 yr. olds’ dance class. The lady next to me was holding a 10mos. old little boy, and he was playing the “dropsy” game with another little boy that was about 2. He would drop his little cow on the floor and the 2 yr old, trying to be kind, would hand it back. The baby would take it, then let go, take it ,then let go… This went on over and over, until the 2 yr old finally looked at him like, ” Why do you keep doing that, and then walked away.” As I sat nexted to them laughing, I thought, I guess that’s probably what God is thinking sometimes, when we let go of something, only to take it right back again.
Thank you so much for this study. It came at the right time in my life.
I have had to let go of so many things and people in my life.
But God graciously fills the gap. I have so much to be thankful for in this
journey of life.
I can relate! It’s hard to let go, but it makes us depend on God even more.
I had a really hard time with this study so far. TO be honest I know that God lead me here. I can’t even explain it. Learning to let go to let God so to speak. My son has Cystic Fibrosis he is having a hard time now, changing meds, more breathing treatments, and the anniversary of my parent’s car wreck that took them away from me is coming up Easter Sunday. My plate is full of fears and sorrows, this book though is bringing all that out of the deepest places of my heart so that God can heal it. I am very grateful.
Valarie,
I’m praying for you. Keep trusting that God can heal your deep hurts. Thank you for doing this study with me, it’s great to have you in this group!
Valarie, Thanks for sharing your very real hurts. I’m grateful for the opportunity to hear your heart and say a prayer for you. May the Lord be with you and help you through the hurts you’re facing…may he richly bless you and your family as you rely on him to go on. In Jesus Name, Amen
Hello
I have one question that I have constantly tossed back and forth forth as an adult Christian and would like some thoughts on it please:
Are you taking a problem back that you haven given God if you continue praying about it? THANKS
Hi Janet, Mercy here…have you ever heard the phrase, “take it to the Lord and leave it there?” I believe that once you pray about it, ask God to handle it, and give it to God, that’s enough!! But you can continue praying to God AS THANKS for answering your request!! You have the power of God to speak those things that be not as though they are! Which to me means I can say what I hear from the word of God and have what I say!! AMEN!!! The bible also says, whatever you ask AND DON’T DOUBT He will give you the desires of your heart! So don’t despair…..just praise Him for your answer! Have a blessed one!!! I agree with you for your answer. Smooches, Sista Mercy
I think as you continue to pray for the same thing you are taking it back to God. Because as you continue to worry about it you are still holding on to the problem. Every time you start to worry you take it back form God but then you should take it back to God. I don’t think it bothers him because he understands us already. He knows that many times Satan continues to bombard us with the worry of the problems that we just have to continue to pray about the problem. Just don’t decide not to take it back to God because Satan is trying to wear you down to where you stop trusting God. Satan uses Gods timing and our impatience to cause us to doubt Gods sovereignty and love. So keep praying every day every hour every minute that you worry about the issue. At some point we will stop worrying because Satan will realize that we haven’t given up on him. Memorize verses about Gods goodness and love and timing. That is how Jesus defeated Satan when he was tempted and that is how we need to defeat Satan also.
Never is it a bad thing to pray to God about anything. Just don’t invite it back into your life to worry about! With that said, I have one situation that I just can’t pray about anymore. It makes me anxious and very sad. I’ve told God that and gave it to Him. It doesn’t meant that occasionally I don’t pray about it, in fact when I think about this person/situation, I immediately turn it over to God and say, “Lord, she’s Yours. Please take care of her and release me of the burdens from the past, they just hurt too bad.”
I have a few situations that I cant/dont want to pray about anymore because it also can create feelings of anxiety and sometimes anger. I also agree that Satan does try to make us doubt the promises of God as well as our impatience will sometime get the best of me. I am learning to practice speaking out loud the promises of God or just scripture verses when the enemy tries to inudate my mind what all kinds and doubts and question. Im enjoying this study as well as the comments. It reminds of the I Peter 5:7-10
Janet,
one thing I used to struggle with and still do at times is that sometimes when I try to take a situation to God, the whole time I am praying I am so focussed on that situation that when I stop praying I don’t feel any better. I had this happen one time when I retreated to my closet to pray and release my burdens, and I would get up to come out, but have to go right back in, because I was still struggling and did not have a peace to move forward. After doing this several times, God finally reminded me to “look up” and get my eyes on Him and off my problem. Since then, when I find myself doing that, I remember that I need to focus on Him, acknowledge his power and sovereignity over the situation, reflect on His faithfullness and goodness, or whatever attributes come to mind either by recall or the scripture I am reading. When I do this, it helps me put things in perspective, and see things better from his viewpoint and then His peace comes…
One of my favorite verses to help me remember this is Phil. 4: 4-8
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
It’s the reminder to think on whatever is true, noble, pure, praiseworthy…God and His truth…that helps me truly lay down my burden and take hold of his peace.
But, yes, this may have to be daily or minute by minute sometimes
Like, someone else said, He knows us and understands our humaness, and wants us to come to Him. I would like to say once I deal with an issue I am done, but I think the norm is more than we tend to struggle with the same things over and over. Satan knows our weaknesses and where he can attack us, and he will bring back that same issue over and over. the key is learning to recognize it sooner each time so we don’t go to that place of anxiety or despair, but immediately think on what is true…
Hope that helps a little.
Kate
I am truly enjoying this studying and am learning so very much. Thank you Melissa for doing the study, it is definitely encouraging me to let go of mt fears and to trust God. Its like the more I keep reading, the more I do not want to put it down. Be Blessed,
Rosa
Rosa,
Thanks for joining me in this study!
I truly am learning to cast my fears and trust the Lord. I have learned some things about my self. I thought I had given control to the Lord but I had not given my full heart to him I have tried to hold on to just a little control still trying to figure out what Iwas going to do about things all the while feeling the Lord saying “Let Me Figure It Out”. I have laid it down at His feet I have given Him full control with ALL my heart!!!! I feel like this study has open my heart and it hurts and feels good all at the same time, does that even make sense??? I feel Blessed, Renewed in Him!!!
Melissa, I am a mother of 5, granny of 17; I have been blessed beyond measure. This study, and you girls at Proverbs31, have been greatly used by our Father to bring me into a close communion with Jesus that has been sadly lacking for years. We serve such a wonderful Father, who loves us so much as His children that He would never leave us alone! I’m returning to my first love with Jesus! Yay!
I love that song!!!I love this Bible Study group!!!!Thanks Melissa!!!
I have been so blessed to have God leading me through a parents worst fear, losing a child. I lost my son when he was 16 years old, in a accident. He was a typical defiant teen -ager. Always using the phrase” all the other kids get to do it”. I was feeling pretty exhausted trying to stand firm with my rules. I was needing some reassurance and support. I went to a Christian counselor who attended our church.
gave me the advice I needed to hear. Stand firm and do not give up on your principles . My son had been out past his curfew so I grounded him and was not willing to shorten it to let him go with friends out of town. He got very upset with me and left the house anyways. He stayed with friends for a few days then got the opportunity to go camping with a friend I did not approve of . The family took him with out getting my permission. They let my son and theirs ride double on a 4- wheeler desighned for 1 person. They boys wrecked and my son was killed. Losing him was horrible enough but losing him when we had had words and I was not able to say good-bye was heart breaking. I was only able to take one day at a time for along time. But God helped me to learn to live with out Russell, even when I did not think I could. There is not a day that goes by that he pops into my thoughts but I can handle those memories with out getting depresseed. Just enjoy remembering him as the fun , loving child he was. Thank You Lord! Kelly G.
Kelly,
So thankful for God’s provision…you cast your cares upon Him and He carried you, and is STILL carrying you!! He is so good in His provision!! Thank you for sharing with us.
Pat
Hi Kelly, thank you for being so brave to share with us the sorrow of losing a piece of your own flesh, i cried reading every word you penned. Just this morning i was feeling so exhausted having to ‘wait’ on my 3 boys and my husband and ‘asked’ God when can i be freed? Guess i shouldn’t stop complaining.
Love in Christ, Christina C.
i meant stop complaining….
Thank you Melissa! I loved how you said to not compare your Bible knowledge with others. I struggle with this often which in turns affects my confidence in sharing about God. I will work on enjoying where I am on MY walk! Love it thanks!
Thank you for including that poem in your post last Tuesday. It really resonated with me. How can I learn to trust God if I don’t let go of the burdens, stresses, or fears I have when I pray & give them to Him?
This whole post & chapter 3 actually resonated with me as my reason for walking away 6 years ago was because I stopped trusting in Him because my burdens & hurts weren’t immediately cured or at all. It really helped to hear that He might not take my burdens away. It really helped to hear that “He may not choose to remove the burden, but He will carry the load. And in order for Him to carry the load, we have to let go.”
This is definitely a work in progress, recommitting my life to God. And this book & Bible study is definitely helping.
Thank you, Melissa. And thanks be to God.
Thanks so much for this awesome study this time. It has been a different one. Since I have done Made to Crave and The Confident Heart. Loved them both,but this is the “meat and potatoes” that I was needing. It has gotten me refocused on who God is and how He cares for me in a personal way. Thanks again and God bless you.
Please forgive me for being a little behind with the study…but I am still reading all the posts and trying to catch up. With that said, I just wanted to share that I appreciated your encouragement regarding not being in competition with others when it comes to our relationship with the Lord. As a Christian, a mother, and a woman, it can sometimes be so hard to not compare and the fear of not being good enough for God does creep in. The reminder that you gave, Melissa, about the Lord meeting us right where we are, was very timely for me! Thank you! I am really growing from this book and the study, even if I am a little behind.
How well do you know God? What a great question! The trials in my life over the past few years have revealed to me that I don’t know God as well as I thought. The whole section in Chapter 3 Who’s In Control is me exactly. I was raised in church and my dad is a preacher. I have recently realized that I thought I knew God, but some of it is simply from my mom and dad. It is very important to know who God is for myself and I am learning more everyday about Him. Thank you God for these trials and revealing yourself to me. I know your plans are better than mine. I truly want to trust you in every area of my life.
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