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There are seasons in our lives when God is asking us to let go of some things so what’s left has room to grow. Sometimes it can seem like we can manage everything we have going on, but that’s just it. Managing them won’t give them the best chance at blossoming into something beautiful and effective.
Sometimes He has something even better for us but cannot release it until we let go of some of the other endeavors, even if they were at one point ordained by God. At times, He only ordains certain callings for a season before moving us into new growth. It’s so important we are attuned to His voice and His leading.
I know when He’s calling me out of something for something better, I will not have peace until I let go whatever it is I’m holding onto. When we cram in too much, each piece can only grow so far. Doing too much stunts the growth of everything. There is only so much space.
So, allowing God to cut some things out so He can further grow what’s left is really a liberating thing! If He isn’t connected to what we’re doing, it isn’t going to be fruitful anyways, and it’s only going to choke what He does want to grow.
Think about the things in your life that would offer you much peace if you could let them go. That might be a place to start praying and asking God what He wants and to confirm that for you.
I have felt lead to begin letting some of my VA (virtual assistant) work go. I struggled with it for a little while because I wasn’t sure if it was just me or if it was really God. But, as I started to release some of it, peace overcame me and I knew I was doing the right thing. It’s simply a season. God has new growth for me and new growth for my family as we welcome in two precious new members in the coming months.
It’s important that I make way for them to have room to blossom by offering them my time as they adjust into a family in an entirely new culture.
But maybe your season looks different. Perhaps you homeschool and you need to spend more time in a certain area of homeschooling–it could be planning, it could be teaching a certain subject, it could be teaching a specific child more closely.
Maybe it’s in your marriage. Perhaps you need more time to be more intentional about connecting with your husband.
Evaluate your own life and season and see if God is speaking to you about letting something go or parring something down. What might it be?
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You always encourage me, Christin. I know God has been speaking to me about this very thing lately but I haven’t been able to decipher what specifically He wants me to prune. I need to spend more time in prayer over it. But where I think about it, my eyes seem to fall on my beautiful daughters and how much I know they need me and how quickly they’re growing. I’ve even shed some mama tears over it. I feel pulled in so many ways, driven in so many ways, and I want it all. I *think* perhaps the answer is to get my author site up and running and just work from that only, with a more relaxed writing schedule. Instead of having two sites and all the social media that goes with keeping them “fed” so to speak. But getting my new site up and running feels like such an overwhelming task. I don’t have a clue what I want the design to look like…nothing. I feel sort of paralyzed by it. Funny thing is…part of what scares me is having my name out there. It’s an irrational fear but it feels almost like I’ll be running around without any clothes on baring it all for the world to see ME. At least with ChristianSuperMom I can hide behind that name. Does that make sense?
I know exactly what I have to give up and it is breaking my heart because it will require sacrifice from my children. Last year my children started taking gymnastics lessons. It became obvious that 2 of them have talent and one in particular has talent and passion for the sport. We planned for them to compete this year. And then we learned about Baby #5. The bottom line is we need a bigger house for 5 children and can’t save for the house AND pay for gymnastics lessons, never mind competitions. So, when the baby comes in May, gymnastics will stop. I know my kids are going to be bitterly disappointed but the greater good for the whole family is more important. It will also give me back 3 hours twice a week so that part is wonderful.
Thank you for reminding me that God prunes good things from our lives so that better things can flourish.
There was a year when my daughter had to give up ballet. Though she was disappointed, she was in no way bitter. She understood. Praying for the same for your children, Stephanie.
Loved this, so glad you wrote it. Bless you Christin.
Ashley from This Southern Girl’s Heart
I love this post. I just wrote about being yoked with Jesus. When I am doing more than what he wants, then that yoke is uncomfortable to be in. He says his burden is light. I want a light burden! I just cut out ladies Bible study. While bible study is a wonderful thing to do I found it taking away from homeschooling my kids and building my platform for lifewithamission.com. I will still be in the word, just on my own time table without the pressure to complete tasks for discussion.
This is right on time for me. Thank you so much for this good word!