Let God
AM Psalm [120], 121, 122, 123 • PM Psalm 124, 125, 126, [127]
Exod. 5:1-6:1 • 1 Cor. 14:20-33a,39-40 • Mark 9:42-50
Reading the Psalms for today’s reflection, I was reminded of a story I recently heard about surrender. A couple of friends were in the car together, and a song by Whitney Houston came on. One person starting singing along and the other, after a moment, put his hand on his friend’s arm and said, “let her.” When I heard this, my initial thought was something along the lines of HARD RELATE. Vocals by Whitney Houston do not need anyone’s help! I love to jump in on a harmony, too, but I’m only getting goosebumps in the moments I can be still and let that graceful, grace-filled voice wash over me.
Surrender is one of my favorite topics of conversation and reflection, mostly because it’s meaning in my life continues to unfold. Or perhaps it is folding onto and into itself, and then unfolding, and then doubling back…it’s complicated, surrender. Put simply, I’m no huge fan of letting go. I like to make plans and anticipate what will happen in any given situation, and then go for it. I love seeing what I can do! All by myself!
This attitude has led to some really cool experiences in my life, and plenty of painful and frustrating ones, too. It has made certain moments of those really cool experiences super painful and frustrating, if I’m honest. The truth is, I can’t do much on my own steam. I need other people, and most of all, I need to let G_d reveal their glory in my life by allowing them to work through me. When I read Psalm 124, I have another HARD RELATE moment:
If it had not been the Lord who was on our side, now may Israel say;
If it had not been the Lord who was on our side, when men rose up against us:
Then they had swallowed us up quick, when their wrath was kindled against us:
Then the waters had overwhelmed us, the stream had gone over our soul:
Then the proud waters had gone over our soul.
Blessed be the Lord, who hath not given us as a prey to their teeth.
Our soul is escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowlers: the snare is broken, and we are escaped.
Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
I want to say that my challenges and issues are pretty mundane compared to deliverance from an avalanche of water. I mean, one time I asked G_d to help me format a particularly troublesome Word doc and the resolution of that frustration made my day. I do know that at at any moment in my life, for the whole rest of my life, I can depend on G_d to see me through when I surrender, stop trying to “help,” and remember to let G_d.
Written by Jane V. Blunschi
Originally from South Louisiana, Jane is a teacher and writer living in Fayetteville, Arkansas.