A Study in Faith: Going Out and Letting Go

Trusting God as you simplify your faith

I’ve been on a weird journey of simplifying and letting go

It’s been partially about finding simplicity, peace, and balance in my life, while simultaneously discovering who I am as God created me to be. In short, it’s been a season of letting go.

The past three years I’ve been letting go of things such as the clutter in my home and the dust collectors and the memorabilia that wasn’t as important as I once thought. I think deep down I knew this was just the first layer of peeling the onion. I suppose this knowing is why so many are reluctant to start decluttering and downsizing — we all know that’s just the first layer, right?

God is more interested in what’s stored in our hearts than what’s in our closets, but often the two go hand in hand

You needn’t have watched every season of Hoarders like I have, to know that the outward clutter is how emotional baggage is manifested.

My letting-go of things and downsizing was followed by a lot of letting-go on the inside — much more than I expected! There’s a long list — each would make a chapter for a book — but some that you may be able to relate to include:

• letting go of expectations — the church’s, God’s (He doesn’t have any but I thought He did), family, friends, employers, but mostly my own unrealistic and unattainable expectations!
• letting go of fear — in all its insidious forms: fear of what other’s think, fear of not having enough, fear of fear, fear of the unknown, fear of the what-ifs, etc.
• letting go of the need for approval — again my own, the inner critic (she no longer has a voice, by the way, but she fought hard against being shut down), from authority figures, and from God (and yes, I now know that He already approves of me — He did the second He thought of me and created me)
• and even letting go of my idea of what belonging was — more about that here

I let go of trying to hang onto who I thought I was — or was supposed to be — on the outside and the inside; stopped coloring my hair and painting my toenails and stopped trying to fit in or please others.

Letting go is a way of life

The past several months have been a journey of listening to a voice that kept whispering, ‘Let go’ and to which I would respond, ‘Haven’t I let go of enough already?’

But out of obedience I’d walk through rooms and closets and make more piles of things I didn’t really need. Still, the whisper maintained its drumming anthem…let go, let go, let go; opens hands, Mary.

I explored more things I needed to let go of: regret, hurt, lies, perfection and productivity, planners and schedules, and my version of work.

Then the idea of selling our home and farm became a vision of what life could look like untethered. I couldn’t fully formulate what this meant but the vision of a hot air balloon became the calling card for this new directive.

The hot air balloon remains on the ground until the ropes that hold it down are severed. The mortgage is what tethers me to where I remain — it’s where my treasure is and the Bible is clear that that is where my heart will also remain.

‘Cut the ties’ became the new whisper. ‘Lord are you sure, where will we go?’

Luke 12:22 was the response; don’t worry. At times throughout this new journey I was excited at the prospect of a new adventure, at other times I was frozen with apprehension and sometimes fear — What if we’re making a huge mistake? What are the next steps? I want to know before I commit. I’m comfortable here.

And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well. (Luke 12:29–31, NIV)

The only answer was, ‘Take the next step.’ As we did, the next step appeared just like when Indiana Jones took the leap of faith. I share the video here with you because it’s a powerful visual of what it feels like at times to follow God’s leading.

As I sit here just days away from cutting the ties to this earth as in owning a home and paying a bank for a place to lay my head, I feel lighter already.

God keeps pointing me in the right direction because He’s faithful like that

This morning’s devotional from My Utmost for His Highest was confirmation that I’m listening and paying attention and taking the right steps. The story referenced is from Hebrews 11 and in it, I saw that Abraham walked out in faith by pulling up his tent stakes.

He could have pounded them in deeper, placed his hands on his hips, and responded to God with, ‘No thanks, You can show me what You want to show me right here, Lord — where I’ve already planted my treasure.’ But, by faith, he went out not knowing where he was going.

By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. (Hebrews 11:8–9, NIV)

Anything that holds us in place is our treasure and the place where your treasure remains is the place you will most want to be. We’re only human, after all, and God knows what ties bind us from achieving the spiritual understanding He has for us.

“Let the attitude of your life be a continual willingness to “go out” in complete dependence upon God, and your life will have a sacred and inexpressible charm about it that is very satisfying to Jesus.” — Oswald Chambers

I look around at the things that still remain — the items I’m reluctant to let go of — the vintage Underdog lunch box that represents a carefree childhood, the many books I was going to read, the Disney VHS (yes, you read that right) collection I was saving to watch with my grandchildren who do not exist yet — and I have to ask myself, ‘Do I want to be in my house, with my belongings that serve as clutter at best, distraction at worst, or do I want to be in Christ in that good and pleasing center of His will’?

We’ve debated this move for almost ten months, waffling back and forth — stay — go — stay — go. And now it’s go time. Each step I take feels peaceful and needs are being met. When I waiver or doubt God sends a clear message as He did through this morning’s devotional.

The other day He sent a buyer for my desk who asked where we were moving to and why we were selling most of our belongings. When I told him the journey we were about to embark on he told me his story of selling all his possessions and living in an RV. Then he added, “What you are doing is liberating.”

Liberating seems fit for a freedom warrior to embrace and model.

After all, it’s Christ who came to set us free so embracing and welcoming this freedom feels natural.

Not necessarily easy — letting go never is even when we know it’s right.

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