November 17, 2017
Let Go and Let God
Mary Southerland
Today’s Truth
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28, NIV).
Friend to Friend
Physical therapists scare me. They are so friendly and so kind … until they get hold of whatever body part needs therapy. That’s when the torture begins.
At first, the therapist is gentle, lulling you into a false sense of comfort. Then it begins. I soon learned that they push just a little past the point where pain begins and your trust in them ends, doing very little to change my mind about the role of a physical therapist.
Several months ago I had extensive surgery for a separated shoulder. For six weeks, my surgeon threatened me within an inch of my life about not moving my arm and shoulder at all. When I went in for a follow-up visit, he examined me, smiled and said, “You are healing well, so I think you are ready for some therapy. I will set it up.”
When I went in for my first therapy session, a very kind woman who introduced herself and said she would be working with me greeted me with a smile. We talked for a few minutes about my injury, the surgery, pain levels and her role in my recovery. She then asked me to remove my sling and lay down on a table where she surrounded me with fluffy pillows. Maybe it wasn’t going to be so bad after all.
After not moving my arm and shoulder for six weeks, I was a little nervous when she gently took my arm in her hands. Explaining that we were going to proceed slowly and with great caution. “Since this is your first visit, we are just going to do two or three exercises that will tell me how stiff and sore your shoulder is” she said. She then told me to take a deep breath and slowly let it out. With gentle kind hands, she began to move my arm in small circles. After six weeks of not moving my arm at all, the simple exercise felt very strange and only mildly uncomfortable.
The therapist stopped, looked me dead in the eye and said, “Let me have it.” She could tell by the confusion on my face that I had no idea what she meant. She smiled and told me to give her the full weight of my arm, to relax and let her do the work. “You don’t have to do anything. That is my job. Just tell me when and how much it hurts. Let me have it.” When I forced myself to relax my arm and shoulder, I immediately understood what she meant.
I could trust her. She knew exactly what to do to help me heal and fully recover from the surgery. All I had to do was to stop trying to do it on my own, relax and let her have the full weight of my wounded arm and shoulder.
I am now into the third month of physical rehab and can tell you that my therapist is an angel. God has used her to help me heal. When I try to push too hard, anxious to complete the therapy and get back at life full speed, she can read the pain in my face and reminds me to relax and let her have my arm so she can do what she needs to do.
My Father works the same way. I come to Him with a burden that is painful and so hard to bear. And He says, “Let me have it.
When I have been hurt and betrayed, my heart is broken and I cry out to Him for comfort, He says, “Let me have it.”
When I have sinned and run to Him for forgiveness, He says, “Let me have it.”
So often I pull back, afraid to fully trust Him. I know. You would think that by now, after all we have been through together, that I would know how absurd it is to even question His work in my life. But I am so human. I want to know the plan before I can rest in Him and let Him have my burdens. I know that my plans are so inferior to His, but I don’t like to surrender control.
I am so thankful God knows me and loves me still. He patiently waits for me to get to the end of myself and then says, “I’m here, child. Let me have it.”
Let’s Pray
Father, please forgive me when I stubbornly refuse to give up control. I want to become a woman of faith whose first choice is to let You have every burden in my life. Thank You for Your unconditional love and forgiveness.
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen.
Now It’s Your Turn
Make a list of the concerns and burdens in your life today. Spend time in prayer, surrendering each one to God. Destroy the list and thank Him for His faithfulness.
More from the Girlfriends
We are sometimes afraid to fully trust God because we do not understand how much He loves us. Check out Mary’s CD, Love That Never Fails. In this powerful message, Mary shares her story and the truth that true love doesn’t collapse under pressure or fall apart in the hard times. And be sure to connect with Mary on Facebook or through email.
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