Give it Up

“And Jesus gave a loud cry and said, ‘Father, into your hands I give my spirit:’ and when he had said this, he gave up his spirit.”
– Luke 23:46 BBE

When Jesus knew the time had come for Him to die, He prayed. He asked if salvation could come another way. Still, He chose the Father’s will, showing us how to let go of old habits and trust God with what we cannot control. Commentaries on Luke 23:46 help us see that His final words were not a loss of control but a deliberate act of trust.

Instead of holding on, He entrusted His life to God. His example shows us how to let go of old habits and walk in obedience. Jesus was praying the words of Psalm 31:5, showing us that surrender is an act of trust.

God’s Will Brings Peace

Are you trying to move forward, but still wanting it your way? Do you keep asking God to deliver you from the same struggle?

Jeremiah 29:11 reminds us that God’s thoughts toward us are peaceful and full of hope. He wants to give you a future and a hope as you submit to Him.

God cares about your dreams and your freedom. Yet He may work in a way you did not expect. When you place your will in His hands, you begin to find peace. You learn to trust His way over your own.

Why It Is Hard to Let Go of Old Habits

Many of us know what it is like to battle a habit we cannot seem to overcome. We try to put it behind us. Then we discover how deeply rooted it is.

I cannot remember how many times I said, “I quit smoking cigarettes.” Throwing them away felt like the end. But I still could not break free on my own.

I began to let go only when I placed that struggle in God’s hands and trusted Him. He helped me do what I could not do by myself.

The In-Between Place of Change

What do you do when you surrender your heart to God’s will and still find yourself in a hard place? What do you do when life feels suspended?

You are no longer where you were. But you are not yet where God is leading you. You want freedom, but change can feel painful.

That is often what it feels like to break old habits. You are no longer content to stay the same. Yet you are still learning how to trust God with what comes next.

How to Let Go of Old Habits and Trust God

When I read about the death of Jesus, I see more than suffering. I see surrender. Matthew Henry’s reflection on Jesus’ final words reminds us that His death was not defeat but a willing surrender to the Father. He placed His life in the Father’s hands and held nothing back.

He gave it up completely. Like Jesus, who entrusted Himself to the One who judges justly, give it to the Lord and trust Him to carry you through. Give it to the Lord and trust Him to carry you through.

Remember that He is with you in the process. He brings peace as He leads you forward.

If you are asking God for change, the answer may not begin with trying harder. It may begin with learning to let go of old habits. Place your struggle and your future in His hands.

As you trust God through change, He gives you strength. He helps you do what you could never do alone. That is where freedom begins.