Now why would you do that?! You didn’t turn it over until you were at the end of your tether and could do no more, soooo, why take it back? Makes no sense. Yet we do this all the time. What’s our problem! Quite honestly, I’m not too sure we can always point to a lack of trust in God… thought it certainly looks that way. I believe that there could be a variety of reason. And yes, you can argue that at the very core is a lack of trust.
However, if we momentarily put aside trust as the issue… what compels us to ‘take back’? A desire to be responsible for the consequences of our actions (or inaction)? That, quite honestly, is a misplaced reason. If we’ve done everything that we know to do and there are still no positive results, the likelihood of our resolving (fill in the blank) diminishes so we need to refocus. When we do give these issues and times to the Lord, what we do is to be sensitive to what we CAN do in this ‘new’ context. Remember the Lord works through us and delivers us but we have to be available to be delivered. Our attitude is critical because it underscores our behavior. What is this telling us?
Another ‘reason’ we take back could be our own… I want to do it myself. This is truly counterproductive. If we could do it ourselves then we would have. Why is it so difficult for us to admit we aren’t able, that we need help? Remember Jesus’ words:
“I am the Vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in Me and I in him bears much fruit, for [otherwise] apart from Me [that is, cut off from vital union with Me] you can do nothing.” (John 15:5, AMP)
Are we trying to challenge scripture? And why? This clearly states that we can’t ‘do it all, all by ourselves’. Then again… why would we? The Lord almost pleads with us to let Him in to help us. Read how the Message translation states this:
“I am the Vine, you are the branches. When you’re joined with me and I with you, the relation intimate and organic, the harvest is sure to be abundant. Separated, you can’t produce a thing. Anyone who separates from me is deadwood, gathered up and thrown on the bonfire. But if you make yourselves at home with me and my words are at home in you, you can be sure that whatever you ask will be listened to and acted upon. This is how my Father shows who he is—when you produce grapes, when you mature as my disciples.” (John 15:5-6, MSG)
Taking it back gains us nothing. We are back in the position we were… why? We have one who tells us what we DO have with Him. Our future is bright with hope and joy. This is not an empty promise nor pie in the sky. We ARE able, we will grow… we can become all that we choose to become.
