Letting Go

“Take your son, your only son—yes, Isaac, whom you love so much—and go to the land of Moriah. Go and sacrifice him as a burnt offering on one of the mountains, which I will show you.” (Genesis 22:2, New Living Translation)

A dear friend of mine shared her disappointment with her grown children. Family had always been extremely important to her. If asked if she’d like to do something with with friends or spend time with her family she always chose her family. Until recent years her children regularly called just to chat. They were more than her children, they were close friends.

But people change, sometimes for no apparent reason. Her children love her but the deep and intimate relationships she enjoyed seem to have evaporated. It’s breaking her heart.

As I listened to her share, it occurred to me that You had taken what she valued most: intimate family relationship. Why? My friend has loved and served You more than 40 years. Your church has been a top priority and an integral part of her life. Why take away a “good gift,” something You gave her that brought such deep joy?

I have seen this before. That which is so very important to one of Your beloved children slipping like sand through their fingers. I believe it’s because You love them … and You want more.

You want more of Your child’s heart, a deeper relationship, greater intimacy, greater trust in and reliance upon You. There is a depth of relationship most of us won’t explore as long as we are comfortable where we are, with what we have; instead, we continue clutching the other things we love.

Father, as we contemplate stepping away from earthly treasures that distract us from deepening our relationship with You, help us to trust that You will fill the painful crevasse. Help us give up the pleasure we know for the promise of greater pleasure with You, a joy too deep to fathom. It’s hard, Lord, even though the promise is from You.