Letting go

I was in one of the worst crises throughout the last quarter of 2023. It tore my heart into seemingly unrepairable pieces. It threw my sanity into a vortex. It almost tore my marriage apart (now graciously restored, stronger than before). 

In the midst of all these, as I was grieving with a broken, bitter heart, I heard a different Voice. It said, 

“The only way through is to let go.”

It took this crisis for me to see that letting go to God has been merely a textbook notion for me. Me to God: “Oh, I thought we were done with all these troubles piling on each other, God. I have barely stood on this mountaintop long enough to enjoy the view, and You are showing me the valley again? Gimme a break, will ya.”

CS Lewis said, “But pain insists upon being attended to. God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pain: it is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world…”

I wish it was otherwise. But I have thankfully, woken up to the realisation that, this is it, isn’t it? This crisis will not be the last. The troubles in life will continue to come in different shapes and forms. Where, what and who I place my dependence on will determine how stable my footing is when the rug is pulled under my feet. If I continue placing them upon the fixing of situations, “happier” times, lack of troubles…when any of those aren’t met, I will be so shaken again. I seriously gotta wise up, exercise my faith, and build my house on solid rock—God.

I’m grateful that I’m finally convicted the only way through in life is to let go. I can let go of whatever and whoever to God. Because He is all-knowing, all-powerful. This is the Source whom I can trust. The source of love, hope, certainty, rest.

Letting go. It’s a strange land in my world of formulas and fixing. It’ll probably be a lifetime of learning and growing for me. I’m looking forward to enjoying the relief and liberation of letting go to God. 

One of my latest abstract watercolour paintings—Planted by Streams of Living Water. “They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit.” - Jeremiah 17:8 New Living Translation

💖 Melinda

p.s. Did you notice that my style of painting is different from previous ones? I’ve written a post to people on my art mailing list about my journey into abstract watercolour art, and why the change. Read on below if you are interested in following my art journey. 👇🏼

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