God, I’ve clung so tightly to my dream that I’ve given You no room to move. Today, I choose to let it go and give it to You. Show Your power and move in my life. You are my heart’s desire, above all else.
Focus of the Month: Ordinary Women with Extraordinary Hope
Tight-fisted. Clenched grip. Full of control. Afraid to let go… Have you ever clung to something so firmly that you couldn’t fathom loosening your hold? Maybe it was a dream, a goal, or mission. Perhaps a child, a job, a significant other.
If we’re being completely honest, we all can admit to refusing to release something to God – trusting Him with every detail of that goal, relationship, or situation. Controlling things from our perspective provides a measure of security. However, we are limited in our humanity and our vantage point is often skewed by our perceptions.
In Exodus 2:1-10, we read the story of Jochebed and her baby boy. In the time Jochebed gave birth to her son, Pharoah had ordered all the Egyptian baby boys be thrown into the Nile River to drown. Jochebed, however, did not throw her baby boy into the Nile. Instead, she nurtured that baby for three months, until she could hide him no longer. Let’s read:
About this time, a man and woman from the tribe of Levi got married. The woman became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She saw that he was a special baby and kept him hidden for three months. But when she could no longer hide him, she got a basket made of papyrus reeds and waterproofed it with tar and pitch. She put the baby in the basket and laid it among the reeds along the bank of the Nile River. The baby’s sister then stood at a distance, watching to see what would happen to him. Soon Pharaoh’s daughter came down to bathe in the river, and her attendants walked along the riverbank. When the princess saw the basket among the reeds, she sent her maid to get it for her. When the princess opened it, she saw the baby. The little boy was crying, and she felt sorry for him. “This must be one of the Hebrew children,” she said. Then the baby’s sister approached the princess. “Should I go and find one of the Hebrew women to nurse the baby for you?” she asked. “Yes, do!” the princess replied. So the girl went and called the baby’s mother. “Take this baby and nurse him for me,” the princess told the baby’s mother. “I will pay you for your help.” So the woman took her baby home and nursed him. Later, when the boy was older, his mother brought him back to Pharaoh’s daughter, who adopted him as her own son. The princess named him Moses,] for she explained, “I lifted him out of the water.”
Jochebed DID place her son in the Nile River – but she placed him in a basket, not tossed in the water to die. And Miriam, the baby’s older sister, kept watch while he floated down the river bank. Can you imagine the battles in Jochebed’s heart and mind as she let her baby boy go? Could she really trust God with her baby?
YES! She could! God arranged such a miracle in their lives, that Jochebed actually was appointed to nurse her very own son in Pharoah’s palace – and got paid to take care of him! What provision! What protection! What sustenance! What peace!
Did Jochebed know God would provide for her and her baby boy in such a miraculous way? We don’t know because scripture does not give us any indication of this. Therefore, we must realize she acted in extraordinary hope – trusting God to protect and provide for her and her baby boy.
What about us? Can we put our “baby” – our dream, our goals, our children, our spouse, our greatest love – out to drift in the water for God to provide, protect, and fulfill purpose?
Jesus said in John 12:24, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.” In other words, unless we allow our dreams, our goals – even ourselves – to die, they cannot produce and bear fruit. That doesn’t mean a literal, physical death. It means a spiritual death – a surrender to God – a full release of control to trust in God and allow Him to work His perfect plan in our lives.
So how about it? Can you let that dream go? Can you release your greatest goal to God and surrender all to Him? Are you willing to cast your cares, your desires, your passions upon the water and allow God to carry them into your future destiny?
It’s not easy. It can be pretty scary. The determining factor really comes down to trusting Almighty God with your very most intimate desires. Know God is for you. He is with you. He has established you. And He will provide, protect, and sustain you as you surrender all to Him.
Holding Fast to Hope,
Maryann
Scripture References: Exodus 1:22-2:10; John 12:24; Romans 8:31; Matthew 28:20; Hebrews 13:5; 1 Peter 5:10