The Difficulty of Letting Go

My hands are getting tired.

They are wrapped around so many things: my Dreams, my Insecurities, my Worries, and my Ultimate Fears.

My Future keeps trying to get away from me, so I tighten my grip.

It's getting harder to hold on. I dig my toes into the dirt, but my hands are still hurting. It's like I'm holding onto a kite, and the wind is turning ferocious. I don't think I'll be able to manage much longer. My knuckles start cracking, and my arms are sore. I want to let go.

"Let me hold on for you," Someone says beside me.

"Are you sure You can handle it?" I ask between clenched teeth.

"Of course I can."

I still hold on. "I don't know," I mutter. "I'm just a little worried that if I give all this to You then things might not turn out."

"What do you mean 'turn out'?"

"I mean..." I'm embarrassed now, but the weight of what I am holding remains. "I mean, what if I don't get what I want? I know...I know that's selfish. But what about these Dreams? What if these things I've been wishing for don't come true? And what if these Fears overtake me? And what if my Future...what if it turns out to be nothing much? Or what if there's no future at all?"

"Well, if all that does happen, then you'll still have Me."

I look over my shoulder at Him and ponder His answer. "So I won't be alone?"

"You'll never be alone," He says. "Here, let me take that for you."

Fear bubbles in my stomach. "Why don't you just hold half of it? Take the Fears and the Insecurities, and I'll handle the rest."

"Do you think you can hold on for that long?"

I look up at the growing mass. "I don't know." The wind whips my hair and pulls harder.

"You see, you have to give it all to me. I can hold onto it. I promise."

I suck in my breath. "Okay...I guess."

He moves towards me and takes my burdens. I fall back and breath a sigh of relief, massaging my hands and flexing my arms. From where I am sitting, I look up to see Him holding onto everything with just one hand.

The wind dies down, and I am free.

1 Peter 5:7