Persevere, Never Giving Up, While Letting Go.

 LET IT GO Do Not Hold ON

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven: A time to be born, And a time to die; A time to plant, And a time to pluck what is planted; A time to kill, And a time to heal; A time to break down, And a time to build up; A time to weep, And a time to laugh; A time to mourn, And a time to dance; A time to cast away stones, And a time to gather stones; A time to embrace, And a time to refrain from embracing; A time to gain, And a time to lose; A time to keep, And a time to throw away; A time to tear, And a time to sew; A time to keep silence, And a time to speak; A time to love, And a time to hate; A time of war, And a time of peace. Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 

Yet Jesus told her, “Do not hold on [or cling] to me”. She was to tell His disciples. Christ said I am “ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God” (v. 17). One commentator notes that she “had a task to perform—to inform [Jesus’ disciples] (cf. 20:18) that he was now returning to the Father. This was not a time to [hold] him; there was a job to do.” (John 20:17)

Friends listen, I have learned over the years, there is a time to hold on and there is a time to let go. I have found the importance of trying to understand the time to persevere, and the time to give in and let go. There comes a time we must be flexible and adapt to what has been handed to us. If we do not we will fail at the challenges given to us and we will not take the opportunities that come our way. 

• By holding on I speak of the persistence to keep on keeping on no matter what, the resilience that only the Lord can truly give and or take away. With the tenacity and strength required to overcome surmountable obstacles and to reach certain goals that you thought you would never reach. This kind takes a sticking to it ness and hanging on to your beliefs, even when faced with griefs and sorrows. But there comes a time, in some situations where the decision has to be made, and there is a time to keep and a time to let go.
• You may ask, but how do we let go? Its not a simple thing to do. It does not come without an acceptance of a reality that is beyond our control. It comes with an ability to release something within you, that you have held on to for a very long time. There must be the desire to move forward in your life. It involves letting go of certain elements of the past. 
• A letting go of old patterns, habits, or the parts of a relationship that no longer serves a purpose to embrace it any longer in your new life moving forward. In Ecclesiastes 3:6, it speaks of a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing. But as I say this, I have to say, this is not an easy task, it comes slowly with much prayers, many tears at times, but with the healing of the heart comes wisdom.  The deep feeling of loss, seems to be always present, but the peace you need is also there, with the moving forward come release. 
• What will it be like when you see someone again after a long time? A relationship that got put on the back burner. I often wonder what I will say when I see that person again. What will it be like to see them, still loving them as you always have, seeing they have stayed healthy and strong and seems to have survived quite well without your presence.  Or did they? Even though you have let go, you still wonder, what if, when you see them again.
• Kind of like Mary when she met Jesus after His resurrection. She was weeping as she stood outside the tomb that was now empty. Then as she turned around she saw Jesus  standing there but did not recognize Him. (John 20:14) I wonder if this was because of the tears in her eyes, or was it still a little bit dark outside. But I only imagine it was because
• Of how he looked the last time she saw Him, beat bruised and bleeding, as He had been tortured before being hung on the cross. Plus she didn't think she would ever see Him alive again, it took a moment for the reality of it to sink into her mind that it was actually so. Yet there He was as large as life standing there in front of her. It was real, yes it was.              (1 Corinthians 15:42)
• But then, as He called her by name, she recognized Him not just as her faithful friend and teacher but as her LORD. (John 20:16) God always has ways of showing up and surprising us doesn't He? Ways of making us be in awe, as we are and will be when we see Him face to face in glory or in our meeting in the sky. Oh what day that will be. 
• I believe I will recognize them, when I see them, but maybe it will be such a change, I may not. But I will recognize them when I hear them say my name. (Dad, Grandpa), oh what a day that will be, but my prayer is, if that day does not come, that when Jesus returns, there will be that meeting in the air, a big family reunion, where we will all meet again.
• Lord, I pray for a surprise, I know you are able to do all things, as you say all things are possible, with you. So I leave it all in your hands,I will faithfully trust you in all things. Lord, I pray that I will continue to show your love and caring attitude at all times, with everyone I meet today. Lord, I praise you as my risen Lord and Saviour, please help me, let go of the things I must, and hang on to the things you want me to continue dealing with in prayer. In your name I pray AMEN 
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