Dare to Let Go: Trusting God in the Release

 

Letting go and trusting God is like watching your child go to school for the first time. You've packed their backpack—snacks, notes, maybe a little comfort item, and all the love. You want to hold their hand all day to ensure they're okay and shield them from every possible challenge. But deep down, you know growth happens when they step out independently.

So you breathe deep. You smile. And you let them go.

That's what releasing things to God feels like. We do what we can, pray, plan, pack in faith… and then let God carry them the rest of the way because He's the better Parent, the stronger Protector, and the most faithful Friend.

Letting go isn't failing. It's faith-ing.

And the moment we release what we've been holding tight, we experience a profound sense of relief, making space for miracles to move and bring peace.

This example isn't as simple as letting go of dreams, businesses, or goals. Those things feel deeply personal—woven into our identity, hopes, and hearts' deepest desires. But surrendering them doesn't mean losing them—trusting that God can handle them better than we ever could. It could be as simple as letting go of the need to control every aspect of your day or as complex as releasing a long-held grudge against someone. It's about acknowledging that God's plan for us is often different but always better than our own.

It means acknowledging that His plans exceed our own, providing security and hope in the unknown.

It means believing He is still working for our good even when things don't unfold as we imagined, instilling a sense of reassurance and confidence in His continuous work.

It means understanding that letting go makes room for something greater. But that doesn't mean it's easy.

So, how do we let go and trust God when everything in us wants to hold on?

Why Letting Go Feels Hard

Letting go is one of the most challenging acts of faith. It demands surrender, trust, and a willingness to release something deeply personal—something we've held onto for so long that the thought of loosening our grip feels terrifying. But why does it feel so hard?

1. We Fear the Unknown

Letting go often means stepping into uncertainty. We don't know what will happen once we release control, and that uncertainty can be unsettling. Will things fall apart? Will God truly come through?

Fear whispers, "If I don't hold onto this, I might lose everything."

But faith responds, "Even if I let go, God will catch me."

Think of Abraham—asked to leave his home, security, and familiar comforts—yet he obeyed without knowing exactly where God was leading him (Genesis 12:1). Trusting God means believing He sees the road ahead even when we don't.

2. We Struggle to Surrender control

Letting go isn't just about walking into the unknown and releasing control. And control can feel safe. It can make us feel powerful. But the truth is, no matter how tightly we hold onto things, God is still in control.

Moses had to surrender control when leading the Israelites. He couldn't part the Red Sea alone, provide manna, or make the people trust him. But every time he let go and depended on God, miracles happened.

What are you holding onto today that God is asking you to release?

3. We Believe Holding On Is Safer

We convince ourselves that holding on will protect us and that clinging to relationships, dreams, plans, or expectations will prevent pain. But sometimes, holding on keeps us trapped instead of freeing us.

Hannah learned this when she surrendered her deepest desire—a child—to God. She poured out her sorrow, let go of control, and trusted Him. And what did God do? He gave her Samuel, a son who became a great prophet (1 Samuel 1:27-28).

Holding on doesn't always bring safety. But surrender always brings peace.

4. We Struggle to Trust God's Timing

Sometimes, God asks us to let go of something, not to take it away, but to make room for something greater. And that requires waiting.

Sarah struggled with this when she waited for a child. She knew God had promised her descendants, but the delay made her doubt. When she tried to control the outcome on her own, it led to heartache. But when God fulfilled His promise, it was better than anything she could have planned (Genesis 21:1-2).

Letting go is hard because we assume our timing is best. But God's timing is never late or wrong and is always intentional.

How to Let Go and Trust God

Letting go is a journey of faith that requires surrender, patience, and trust in a God who never fails. But truthfully, when we don't trust God, we tend to control.

We try to hold things together.

We overthink, over-plan, and overwork.

We cling to outcomes, believing they won't happen if we don't make them happen.

But control is exhausting because deep down, we know we can't control everything. And here's the hard truth: control is often rooted in fear. We fear loss, uncertainty, disappointment, and failure, and to protect ourselves, we grasp tightly what we think we can manage.

Yet, control can only take us so far.

At some point, God asks us to surrender—not because He wants to take things away, but because He wants to lead us to something better.

What Happens When We Don't Trust God?

• When we struggle to trust God, it often shows up in subtle ways:
• We try to manipulate outcomes. Instead of releasing things to God, we push, force, and stress over making things work on our timeline.
• We obsess over worst-case scenarios. Instead of walking in peace, we let anxiety take over, playing out every possible failure in our minds.
• We hesitate to move forward. Instead of boldly stepping out in faith, we stall, waiting for certainty before we obey what God has already asked us to do.
• But here's the truth: God never asked us to understand everything—He asked us to trust Him.
• "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding." —Proverbs 3:5

How to Let Go and Trust God

If letting go feels hard today, here are practical ways to step forward in faith:

• Recognize where you're holding on too tightly. Ask yourself: Am I clinging to control because I don't trust God with this area of my life? Are there situations where I find it hard to let go and let God take over? You need to practice letting go and trusting God more in these areas.
• Surrender through prayer. Tell God exactly how you're feeling. Share your fears, hesitations, and struggles with Him, and then release them into His hands.
• Take one small step forward. Trusting God doesn't mean a perfect leap—it means walking in faith, even in small ways. Whether that means stepping out in obedience, pausing your anxious thoughts, or making space for God to move, choose faith over fear.
• Remind yourself of His faithfulness. Look back at your life—has God ever failed you? Has He ever abandoned you? No matter what happens, He remains steady.
• Be patient in the process. Surrender isn't a one-time act—it's a daily choice. Continue to let go, trusting that God sees the whole picture, even when you don't.

A Final Encouragement

Sister, God does not want you to have everything figured out—He wants you to trust Him.

Your job isn't to control the process.

Your job isn't to predict the future.

Your job isn't to carry burdens alone.

Your job is to trust God, who has the details, the timing, and the plan in His hands.

And the moment you dare to let go, you'll find that surrender isn't losing—it's finally walking in peace.

Even here, even now, He is trustworthy.