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, yet He still chose the Father’s will. Instead of holding on, He entrusted His life to God. His example shows us what it means to let go of old habits and walk in obedience.

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 His thoughts toward us are peaceful and full of hope, meant to give you a future and a hope as you submit to Him. God cares about your dreams and your freedom, but He may choose to work in a way you did not expect. When you place your will in His hands, you begin to find the peace that comes from trusting 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, only to 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 of old habits only when I placed that struggle in God’s hands and trusted Him to help me do what I could not do by myself.

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 between where you were and where God is leading you? You want freedom, but the process of 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. He placed His life in the Father’s hands and did not hold anything back. He gave it up completely. If you are trying to break an old habit or make a change in your life, do not keep fighting alone. Give it to the Lord and trust Him to carry you through. And remember that He is with you in the process, bringing 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 by placing your struggle and your future in His hands. As you trust God through change, He gives you the strength to do what you could never do alone. That is where freedom begins.