When someone we love is facing a problem, we’ll often try to help them. And if we can’t help them, we carry round our failure like a burden. But there are times when we need to let go, and let God deal with them. Letting go doesn’t mean we stop caring; it just means we’ve recognised that we can’t always fix things for them. Letting go isn’t about cutting ourselves off; it’s about realising we can’t control everything. Sometimes we need to take a step back and let others learn from the consequences of their actions. That doesn’t mean we should blame or try to change the other person – we need the wisdom to understand that only God can change their hearts. It’s ‘caring about’, instead of ‘caretaking’. It’s being supportive without trying to fix them, and instead of judging, allowing them to be human, with flaws just like we have. Letting go means that instead of trying to control every possible outcome, we allow others to affect their own outcomes. Sometimes we can become overprotective when we care about someone and want the best for them; but there are times when we need to let people face reality. Psalm 55:22 says: ‘Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you.’ Letting go doesn’t mean that we should stop having anything to do with the person; instead, we’re handing over the worry and the responsibility to God, who knows exactly what to do and what that person needs. We can be supportive, listen to them, and be there for them, but let God carry their burdens and worries. He already knows the answer to them.

What Now?

Are you burdened with someone else’s problems at the moment? Today, take some time to hand all of those burdens to God.