God Lets Go Sometimes

     I remember when our son was a senior in high school, asking to go to New York City for New Years, and to the Florida Keys for spring break. How I wanted to say, "NO!!! It's NOT SAFE!" I prayed about it, and I heard, "He will soon be 18. Let him go; I will go with him."
     Phil was trying to find himself, and these forays into the unknown were the adventures that would help mold him. It was so hard. I knew that there were going to be things happening of which I might not approve. But I had to let him go, and see what he learned. I had to trust that God would go with him.
     As I began again this week to read Romans, I came to a phrase I've read many times. This time it has bothered me a bit --- I even woke up at 3:30 a.m. thinking of this phrase: "God abandoned them..." to whatever they wanted to do, even the things that did not please Him. Other versions say, "God gave them up to..." or "God let them go..."
     God lets us go when we insist on our way. He does not always protect us from the consequences of our choices. But He's always watching and waiting for us to turn around and come back home to Him. The next question is: "Why is it so hard to turn around and come back?"
     Sometimes other people have shaped our view of God - and He may not be exactly how He is portrayed by others. If I really know Him, His love, His long-suffering nature, His forgiveness, His grace and mercy, His delight in me...then I can trust Him with my plans, dreams, my very life.