There has been many times in life, where we need to let go of something and trust that God in the unseen. I recall a time where Timothy and I were dating, and even confirmation after confirmation that we were supposed to get married, God had asked me to let him go. He had become an idol in my life at the time and I was relying on Him for love more than God. Months went by without talking to him and my relationship with God again was restored and unbeknownst to me, he talked to my parents about marrying me. A few days later he took me to Boston and proposed. I was speechless because I truly had let him go to God, and God restored my heart and gave him back to me. In the meantime I was tested, just like Abraham with Isaac on the altar.
The next big thing we had to let go of as a family was the security of a solid job for finances. Over the course of a year, God began to slowly speak to us. First, when we were looking for a home, it wasn’t working out to buy one. Secondly, He asked us to sell our possessions, like our car, furniture, plants and other things. We didn’t understand why, but did it and it seemed too easy. For example, Timothy had over a hundred fig trees, so who would have thought that people in NY would want them? Well, one Fathers’ day weekend, we sold them. When we are obedient to God, things go a lot smoother than trying to do things in our own strength! Finally, He spoke clearly that we were to serve in missions in Australia and quit the security of a stable job when Timothy was about to be promoted. We did not raise even close to our budget, but still let go of the job and flew to Australia in faith that God would provide our needs, and indeed He did!
The most recent instance where God has asked us to let go of something big, has been a home. We finally found a property that we could live in and then eventually rent out for income here in Florida. After coming back to America a few years ago, we figured we’d need a home base so we didn’t have to live with family anymore. After looking for a year, we went under contract for a home last November, when interest rates were 3%. The builder promised it would be done soon, every month, for the next year. We finally were going to close this month, but the interest rate was going to be 7%, leaving the home un-affordable for us, thus we had to walk away, again. We haven’t owned a home now in over a decade and don’t have another one in sight as the market is still high with now higher interest rates. We don’t know what is on the other side, or His plans, but trusting that God has a plan.
In the moment it is so hard to let things go, but this is the definition of faith according to Hebrews 11:1:
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Just like Abraham and Sarah were too old to conceive, they had to believe and trust God for something that was nearly impossible in the natural. God loves to do things in impossible situations, the bible is full of story after story of Him coming through. I would recommend reading some of them to those who need to grow in their faith today!