Have you noticed at times a specific theme is repeating in your heart and life, a lesson that God is really wanting you to grasp? Or maybe He gives you a word for a time to keep in mind, to motivate and center yourself. Two themes that kept coming to mind for me in the last few years are “Hold loosely the things of this life” and “Lift your feet.” That second one might sound funny so let me describe the imagery that came with the words.

Imagine you are in the middle of a wide, swiftly moving river and you can just touch the bottom with your feet. When you try to walk through the water it rushes around your body and legs so you lean forward to try and make headway. It’s slow going for you, especially if you lose your footing and get pushed back. Depending on how far you want to go, it will get pretty tiring. The current is so strong that if you were to lower yourself into the water and lift your feet, the water would carry you along for miles.

So often, while trying to keep control of things it feels like I’m trying to run through chest-high water that’s surging in the other direction. And at times it even seems like the river is getting wider as I go so that I’m not any closer to reaching the edge than when I started. I wear myself out, anxiety rising like water up to my chin because I believe I have to figure out solutions or fix situations that are beyond my limited strength, wisdom, knowledge, or perspective. I guess the most basic description of this mindset is forgetting that God is in control and I am not (and don’t have to be!).

I believe God was telling me, and still does, to stop striving against the flow and lift my feet. I need to surrender to the current of the river of his Holy Spirit and go where He takes me. Of course, this requires trusting that He is good and cares about me and won’t send me plunging over the edge of Niagara Falls!

Jesus said that if we’re weary, we should come to Him. He will give us rest and help bear the burdens (Matthew 11:28). He also said not to worry about tomorrow but to trust God as our loving Father who cares about us (Matt. 6:25-34). He said that the Holy Spirit would be with us, guiding, teaching, strengthening and comforting us (John 14:15-17, 26). The most wonderful promise is that He will be with us until the end of time (Matt. 28:20).

Maybe He’s saying these kinds of things to you right now, “Stop struggling. The current is my Spirit. I’ve got you. I won’t ever leave you to drift or drown. Lean back, float, rest. You can let go. I love you. Lift your feet.”

“Trust GOD from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for GOD’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he’s the one who will keep you on track. Don’t assume that you know it all.” – Proverbs 3:5-6 The Message paraphrase