Episode #284 When Fear Keeps You from Letting Go – Unforced Rhythms of Grace

Is fear holding you back from letting go? That's kind of a heavy question to start out today's episode, but sometimes we can hold on too tightly to things or seasons. Not because we need what we're grasping onto, but because we're scared of what happens when we let go. And that's something we're talking about in today's episode.

If you're new around here hi, I'm Jen. I'm excited to get to spend these few minutes with you as we draw near to God and have uncommon conversations with him in the common moments of our day-to-day lives. I love listening to podcasts while I'm driving and doing dishes and running errands and folding laundry. Although I don't really like folding laundry, but I love that God makes himself available to us in common everyday moments. And that any moment gets to be this shared experience we have with him.

And so in that vein, I'm sharing with you some thoughts and quotes that have sparked for me as I'm rereading Richard Foster's Celebration of Discipline. And if the idea of celebrating disciplines doesn't sound great to you, then I'm especially glad you're here because I did not always see disciplines as being delightful. But that's what they're created to be. That's why I am sharing this series with you. Because disciplines are not about following a legalistic rule- following method. It's about posturing our hearts to receive more of who God is and walk more in relationship with him, becoming more and more who he's created us to be.

And we get to do that in day-to-day life with God. And in the book, I'm in the section talking about the discipline of simplicity and Fosters talking about how we can have these competing interests that sometimes show up in the things we hold onto. He talks about how we can find it difficult to be generous with what we have or to let things go because of our fear of the future.

To quote Foster, "If our goods are not available to the community when it is clearly right and good, then they are stolen goods. The reason we find such an idea so difficult is our fear of the future.”

Which really reading that quote kind of stopped me in my tracks because I've never really thought about it that way. If I have been entrusted things by God, and I'm holding them so tightly that I cannot be generous with them… then I'm stealing them. Because God does not only give me things for my good, he gives things for our good because we're the body of Christ. Because we are all being built together into God's house where Jesus is the cornerstone. Because we're all part of the bride.
And Foster goes on to say, "But if we truly believe that God is who Jesus says he is, then we do not need to be afraid. When we come to see God as the almighty Creator and our loving Father, we can share because we know that he will care for us."
And in my experience as a believer and as a follower of Jesus, that has often been the sticking point for me. If I truly believe that God is both Almighty Creator and a loving Father who cares for me, then I don't have to be afraid. And so my fear comes in because somewhere I get stuck questioning if God is my loving Father and also Almighty Creator who's in control of all things, and also tangibly shows his care for me.

In Luke 12:32, it says, “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.”

In Philippians 4:19, it says, “My God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.”

In Matthew 6:26, which we've talked about already in recent episodes, “Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? They do not sow or weep or store away in barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they.”

Fear can keep us holding too tightly to things and it can limit our generosity with them. It can cause us to feel like we have to fend for what's ours. To fight and hold onto the little that we have, because who knows if we will ever get that again? Or if we are generous with what we've been given, who knows if we might quickly run out?

All of those questions kind of go back to this quote from Foster: do I truly believe that God is who Jesus says he is? Do I truly believe that my Almighty Creator is also my loving Father who cares for me? And if so, what kind of generosity is then empowered in me?

As we close out today's episode, I challenge you to consider where this is difficult for you and to talk with God about it. Don't pick up shame, don't feel condemned. Ask God to help you receive more of who he is. To experience more of this truth, that he is Almighty Creator, king of the universe, who also is your good Father who cares for you.

And here's a helpful question that you can take to him and ask him to talk with you about some things from his perspective:

God, how might trusting who you are and your care for me change what I'm willing to share with others?

Have a good talk.

And if you've been encouraged by this content, please share it with a friend and help them grow in their conversational relationship with God too!

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