Janice held her five-year-old daughter and stepped into the pool. The warmth of the water wrapped around her body like a cozy blanket. She walked in up to her waist and stopped, staying close to the side. “This looks like a great spot to learn to swim. What do you think?”

Cindy gasped and stiffened. “No!”

“It’s okay, honey. I’ve got you.” Janice turned Cindy onto her stomach and eased her into the water.

Cindy screamed, arms flailing. She slipped from Janice’s hold.

Janice gripped her tighter. “Honey, you have to be still.”

Cindy grabbed the side of the pool, kicking hard.

“Let go and just let me hold you.”

“No!”

“Stop fighting it. I’ve got you.”

Cindy released her death grip from the edge. She giggled as Janice led her in circles around the pool.

“See, I told you it would be fun. You have to trust me.” 

What is the most frightening experience you’ve encountered? What about the toughest situation you’ve had to deal with? How did you react?

I’ve been through some tough ones too. Betrayal. Divorce. Health issues. However, the hardest one was when we found out our precious mother had an inoperable brain tumor.

I felt like I’d been punched in the stomach. I questioned God. “Why did You allow this? I love her too much to let her go.” Do you know what I heard back from Him?

I love her more and want her home with Me.

Like the little girl in the above story, I kicked and screamed, holding on tight. I didn’t want to let go. I shook my fist at God. There’s no way He could love her more. I needed her here with me.

Then years later, came the diagnosis of my brother’s bone marrow cancer. Wham! Once again, I kicked and screamed at God. How could I lose another member of my precious family?

Slowly, God moved in my life. He used Mom and Murray to teach me that there’s joy in the thick of pain, and that I needed to look for the blessings. Guess what?

They were there. I just had to be still and let go.

Was it tough? You bet.

I wanted to control the situation. I had to be strong to prove I was okay. I didn’t want to surrender.

Can you relate?

We can’t always be the strong ones. We need to relinquish control. We will never know all of the reasons why storms travel through our lives, but we need to stop fighting, trust Him, and let go. (Click to tweet)

When we do we will see Him turn the ashes of our pain into something beautiful.

Let’s lift our eyes to our Savior, stop holding on, and fall into His enormous arms.

And just be held.

Psalm 91:1-2 (NIV)

Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”

What is the toughest trial you’ve had to go through? Did you find it hard to rest and just be held? Share your thoughts with us. 

Just Be Held (written by Bernie Herms, Mark Hall, Matthew West)

When I first heard this song by Casting Crowns (from their CD Thrive), it grabbed ahold of me and wouldn’t let go. I knew I had to share it! Listen to the words.