Unka Glen

Anonymous asked: I’m struggling with letting go and letting God. For instance, I can’t seem to let God handle my love life. I currently love a guy (with godly intentions), and I’m scared that if I give this area to God, He won’t give me the guy I love as my husband. I’ve tried SO hard to let God handle it, but I’m still holding on.

Unka Glen answered: Your question reminded me of an old sermon example that I’ve used before, but it bears repeating…

A father loves his little girl, so he gives her a plastic toy necklace made to look like a string of pearls. Just something cute, no biggie. But the girl freaks out, she puts on her plastic necklace and refuses to take it off. She wears it to bed, she bathes in it, it never leaves her neck. Soon it starts to get all gross and her neck is turning green, and things are getting out of hand.

So moved is the father, that he decides to give the daughter a real pearl necklace. So he finds his daughter, and he holds the real pearls in his hand behind his back, telling his daughter that he has a surprise for her, then he holds out his other hand, and he asks his daughter to take off her favorite necklace and give it to him.

The daughter runs away crying! How could my father ask me to give up this thing I love so much. If he knew me, and understood this situation, he would never ask me to surrender the one thing I care about most. But she knows she can’t hide forever, so she gathers up her courage, and with tears in her eyes, she hands the father the old cheap plastic necklace. Only then does she see what the father has in store.

On surrendering, it’s not about what you’re giving up, it’s about the real and authentic and much more valuable thing you’re receiving. It’s about asking God to take away something you want, to make room for the thing that He wants for you. This is a prayer He will honor, and that you won’t regret.

• You said: I just recently started following your blog and I think you have awesome things to say and I think that you're chasing after Jesus and that's awesome! I just had kind of a general question: Lately I have felt like God is telling me to surrender in one part of my heart in particular to Him. I feel like he has said to me, "Give it up." I know that this is what I need to do. I know that it is there I will find my peace and calm, but I am clueless as to what surrendering looks like, especially surrendering something that is so close to my heart. So, I suppose my question is what can I do? How do I give it up? What does that look like? Any incite you could give would be greatly appreciated. Thanks! - Anonymous
• I said:

  A father loves his little girl, so he gives her a plastic toy necklace made to look like a string of pearls. Just something cute, no biggie. But the girl freaks out, she puts on her plastic necklace and refuses to take it off. She wears it to bed, she bathes in it, it never leaves her neck. Soon it starts to get all gross and her neck is turning green, and things are getting out of hand.

  So moved is the father, that he decides to give the daughter a real pearl necklace. So he finds his daughter, and he holds the real pearls in his hand behind his back, telling his daughter that he has a surprise for her, then he holds out his other hand, and he asks his daughter to take off her favorite necklace and give it to him.

  The daughter runs away crying! How could my father ask me to give up this thing I love so much. If he knew me, and understood this situation, he would never ask me to surrender the one thing I care about most. But she knows she can’t hide forever, so she gathers up her courage, and with tears in her eyes, she hands the father the old cheap plastic necklace. Only then does she see what the father has in store.

  On surrendering, it’s not about what you’re giving up, it’s about the real and authentic and much more valuable thing you’re receiving. It’s about asking God to take away something you want, to make room for the thing that He wants for you. This is a prayer He will honor, and that you won’t regret.