Let It Go!

Recently I ran across a quote from Joyce Meyer that convicted me:  “Peace is more important than anything that makes you mad; anger paves the way to sin. Focus on God instead of the wrong that’s been done.  – Joyce Meyer.  As I reflected on Joyce's insight, it dawned on me:  that’s what Jesus did.  I mean wrong after wrong was done to Jesus; Holy Week is a prime example:  not one trial, but two trials; not one flogging, but multiple floggings; not some friends abandoning Jesus, but most friends abandoning Jesus. But Jesus never focused on the wrongs, rather Jesus focused on God.  

Jesus’ focus is epitomized in His prayer of release on the cross:  “…Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.”  (Luke 23:46).  It’s interesting, Luke underscores Jesus called out those words, “…with a loud voice…”  (Luke 23:46).  It as if Luke is telling us: it takes great effort to release things to God.  But it’s worth the effort, for if we don’t release things to God, including emotions to God, we will be bound and we will sin.  But God does not want us bound; God does not want us to sin.  And so yes, release things to God ; whatever the quandary, whatever the crisis -- release things to God, into His strong, able, helping hands.

J.S. Bach was a musical genius, no doubt.  Why Bach wrote over 1,100 compositions, the majority of which were written to the glory of God.  But Bach also wrestled with God, struggling with significant anger; and for good reason:  Bach was orphaned twice, along with losing his first wife and 10 of his children.  But Bach prevailed, learning  to release things to God through prayer.   In fact, the majority of Bach’s cantatas did not begin as musical scores, but as prayers.   Bach represented this intent in a very graphic way.  Why before Bach began scoring a sheet of music, he would literally scrawl the letters J.J. – Jesu, juva -- at the very top of his sheet; the simplest of prayers, but the profoundest of prayers -- Jesus help me! (adapted, Mark Batterson, All-In, p. 117).

Not a bad prayer for any of us:  Jesus help me!  For whatever the emotional challenge, we are to release things to God – to ask for assistance from God as we struggle with the disappointment, the anger, the hurt of life.   

And so where are you struggling with the disappointment, the anger, the hurt of life?  Release it to God – by praying to God:  Jesus help me!

Yes:  Jesus help me!  Jesus help all of us!   For we do live in an over-against, unjust world.  But what else is new.  Jesus also lived in an over-against, unjust world.  But Jesus taught us how to live -- nevertheless – in spite of the injustice around us.  Not with disappointment, anger, and hurt, but with confidence, contentment and release.  

Live with confidence, contentment, release!  For we can do more than eye our grief – we can eye our God.  For our God has formed us and named us, declaring:  “… you are mine.  When you pass through the waters, I will be with you -- and [when you pass] through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you -- when you walk through fire you shall not be burned…for…you are precious in my eyes… honored…[and loved]…”  (Isaiah 43:1-4).   

Know that you are precious, honored and loved!  In a world that hurts, know there’s a God who calls you by name. 

And so don’t just emote, emulate.  Emulate Jesus!! – a Jesus who demonstrates how to commit things -- to release things -- to let go of things – into the safe – able -- helping hands – of a big – bold -- beautiful God!!