Let Go When It is Time
David noticed that his attendants were whispering among themselves, and he realized the child was dead. . . .
Then David got up from the ground. After he had washed, put on lotions and changed his clothes, he went into the house of the LORD and worshiped. Then he went to his own house, and at his request they served him food, and he ate.
His attendants asked him, ‘’Why are you acting this way? While the child was alive, you fasted and wept, but now that the child is dead, you get up and eat!’’
He answered, ‘’While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept. I thought, ‘Who knows? The LORD may be gracious to me and let the child live.’ But now that he is dead, why should I go on fasting? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him, but he will not return to me.” 2 Samuel 12:19-23.
Then David got up from the ground. After he had washed, put on lotions and changed his clothes, he went into the house of the LORD and worshiped. Then he went to his own house, and at his request they served him food, and he ate.
His attendants asked him, ‘’Why are you acting this way? While the child was alive, you fasted and wept, but now that the child is dead, you get up and eat!’’
He answered, ‘’While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept. I thought, ‘Who knows? The LORD may be gracious to me and let the child live.’ But now that he is dead, why should I go on fasting? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him, but he will not return to me.” 2 Samuel 12:19-23.
Part of the divine judgment David faced for his sins was that the child born of Bathsheba would die. God struck the child and he fell sick. David refused to eat. He prostrated himself on the ground in fasting and prayer, hoping that God would mercifully spare the child. But God did not.
At the death of the child, David got up, polished himself, went to church to worship, went home to eat and resumed his normal life. This was totally contrary to the expectations of his attendants. They expected David to sink into a depressive state or even ‘’do something desperate.’’ David’s behavior was contrary to their expectations. There is a lot to learn from David’s behavior.
God definitely understands our need to grieve and mourn when we encounter a loss in our lives. The Bible says we should mourn with those who mourn. Jesus wept at the tomb of His friend Lazarus. His humanity and example were clearly visible. We must definitely mourn at our losses.
The key thing is whether we will forever be defined by our loss, by lying on the ground indefinitely or whether like David, we would know when it is time to rise up, put on some lotion, worship God and forge ahead. God expects us to mourn but He also wants us to know when it is time to rise up, start worshiping him and trust Him to help us forge ahead.
When Moses died, God said to Joshua, ‘’Moses my servant is dead. . . . get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give them . . .’’ (Joshua 1:2). It was time to move on. When God rejected King Saul, He said to Samuel; ‘’. . . How long will you mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and be on your way; I am sending you to Jesse. . . . I have chosen one of his sons to be king.’’ (I Samuel 16:1).
There are times when we would suffer immeasurable losses. This could be in the form of the death of loved ones like David experienced. It could even be in the form of long-standing and very precious relationships that come to an end. People might simply choose to walk away from us, no matter how much we would wish to the contrary. As painful as it may be, we must muster the courage to get up from the ground, clean up, worship and press on after we have mourned. We must learn to depend on God to help us let go when it is time.
I am simply fascinated by how God knows our humanity that He addresses every conceivable situation we may ever encounter in the fractured world we live in. Trust God and let go when it is time. Letting go means you are recognizing God as the sustainer of your future. You never know what blessing God might have around the corner after you let go.
At the death of the child, David got up, polished himself, went to church to worship, went home to eat and resumed his normal life. This was totally contrary to the expectations of his attendants. They expected David to sink into a depressive state or even ‘’do something desperate.’’ David’s behavior was contrary to their expectations. There is a lot to learn from David’s behavior.
God definitely understands our need to grieve and mourn when we encounter a loss in our lives. The Bible says we should mourn with those who mourn. Jesus wept at the tomb of His friend Lazarus. His humanity and example were clearly visible. We must definitely mourn at our losses.
The key thing is whether we will forever be defined by our loss, by lying on the ground indefinitely or whether like David, we would know when it is time to rise up, put on some lotion, worship God and forge ahead. God expects us to mourn but He also wants us to know when it is time to rise up, start worshiping him and trust Him to help us forge ahead.
When Moses died, God said to Joshua, ‘’Moses my servant is dead. . . . get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give them . . .’’ (Joshua 1:2). It was time to move on. When God rejected King Saul, He said to Samuel; ‘’. . . How long will you mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and be on your way; I am sending you to Jesse. . . . I have chosen one of his sons to be king.’’ (I Samuel 16:1).
There are times when we would suffer immeasurable losses. This could be in the form of the death of loved ones like David experienced. It could even be in the form of long-standing and very precious relationships that come to an end. People might simply choose to walk away from us, no matter how much we would wish to the contrary. As painful as it may be, we must muster the courage to get up from the ground, clean up, worship and press on after we have mourned. We must learn to depend on God to help us let go when it is time.
I am simply fascinated by how God knows our humanity that He addresses every conceivable situation we may ever encounter in the fractured world we live in. Trust God and let go when it is time. Letting go means you are recognizing God as the sustainer of your future. You never know what blessing God might have around the corner after you let go.
Prayer: Lord, I thank you that your word addresses every situation that I would ever encounter in life. As difficult as it may be, please help me to let go and completely trust you when the time is right. Amen.