Change requires us to open to new possibilities. And this is inherently risky. While we know what we have today, we don’t know what’s on the other side of change. We need much faith and hope to risk letting go and facing the unknown.
It’s been said a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. And certainly there’s wisdom in living with contentment rather than always chasing the wind for something better.
But we cannot grow into our potential if we never let go.
A seed remains just a seed while we hold on to it. But if we’re willing to let it go it can become a tree that produces much fruit.
The only way to access the seed’s potential is to let it die. But as the parable of the sower reminds us, this is risky and not every seed makes it.
All the same, any hope of becoming something more requires this risk.
This might play out when it comes time to change jobs, for example. We know it’s time for a change, but we don’t know if the new job is worth it.
While we don’t want to make rash decisions, change only takes place when we’re willing to let go of the old.
And this plays out in our relationships as well. We often have to let go of our old ways of relating even after decades of knowing someone.
Likewise, there comes a time to let go of our many small stories and open more and more to the larger story God is telling.
Whatever the case, we can courageously let go when we remember God still brings life after death.
When we forget, we become as useless as a seed never planted.
Letting go is risky. But the hope of more life on the other side is worth it.
Photo by Alexander Klarmann on Unsplash
