When the fourteenth night had come, as we were drifting across the Adriatic Sea, about midnight the sailors suspected that they were nearing land. So they took soundings and found twenty fathoms; a little farther on they took soundings again and found fifteen fathoms. Fearing that we might run on the rocks, they let down four anchors from the stern and prayed for day to come. But when the sailors tried to escape from the ship and had lowered the boat into the sea on the pretext of putting out anchors from the bow, Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, “Unless these men stay in the ship, you cannot be saved.” Then the soldiers cut away the ropes of the boat and set it adrift. ~ Acts 27:39-44
Letting go is hard.
It seemed safer to the sailors to lower the boats and head for land rather than stay on a ship that seemed headed for the rocks.
It seemed safer to trust their instincts rather than to let go and trust.
They say that when you are about to be in a car crash, the best thing to do is what seems counterintuitive. Instead of clutching on for dear life, you have to let go - loosen up. You'll get far less injuries that way. (I try to remember that every time I clutch onto the dashboard tightly when my husband makes what I think it too quick a turn)!
Letting go of our instincts admittedly isn't always the safe thing to do. As a woman who has walked by herself in parking lots and city streets at time, I know that my instincts need to be trusted.
But there are other times when the thing I am holding on tightly to - thinking it is the safe or best thing for me - will actually be the worst thing for me.
Sometimes holding on too tightly to something impedes growth and flourishing.
Sometimes you have to let go, go through the rocks, and let yourself be set adrift to find the place where you are meant to be.
When is a time you let go of something that was difficult to let go of in order to grow or change?
Is there a time when your instincts led you in the wrong direction?
Is there something you might be be called to let go of now?
Help me to let go of the instincts I have that are keeping me from trusting yours. Amen