AM I HOLDING ON TOO TIGHT, OR IS GOD REALLY THAT FAR AWAY? – Episode 5
I have always wondered at the absurdity in the phrase- ‘Let Go and Let God’. It never made sense to me, not because there is no truth to it, but because my control freak self could not wrap my head around just letting go. What do you even mean Let God? As in, I should pretend like I have no problems and forget all my plans to solve them? Or should I just sit still until they miraculously solve themselves? Also, I have never been able to rationalize the difference between this saying and the concept of praying until something happens.
On one hand, we as Christians are encouraged to pray until there is an answer. Even James 5:16 says, “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much,” and then there is the parable of the persistent Widow and the judge in Luke 18:1-8, which encourages us to keep asking until we get a response. All of these things have conditioned us to think that warfare and prayer are unending circles of just asking God for something, fasting and crying out until we witness a turnaround in our situation, and slowly, this can lead to spiritual burnout.
What complicates things even more is that while we’re told to keep showing up in prayer, Jesus also warned us in Matthew 6:7, saying, “And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words.” Doesn’t this raise a contradiction? If I am to keep showing up and telling God my prayer points until he answers, how do I balance that with not repeating words since repetition is not the key to being heard?
Whether we like to admit it or not, the constant showing up in the place of prayer over a particular issue can lead to spiritual burnout. When your back is against the wall and you keep crying out even though nothing around you seems to change for the better, you can reach a point of burnout and even decide to give up. I have come to realise that this is where most people turn their backs on God because they feel he turned His back on them first. Spiritual burnout is something a lot of Christians don’t like to admit, maybe because they feel it will make them look like bad Christians. But whether you want to admit it or not, it is real.
I struggle with this feeling all the time. The pressure of continuously showing up even when I no longer have the words to describe my burden, because a part of me is scared that my inability to fervently pray and keep knocking on the door will somehow delay my blessings. Like if I skip a day of reminding God of my struggles, then the distance between me and my miracle will increase, lol. But on the other hand I find myself resting in the assurance that even the bible says God knows what I want before I ask and he said I don’t need to keep repeating myself; so maybe, just maybe, skipping one day to sit in the dark and nurse my broken heart won’t affect the outcome of all my nights of praying and crying.
In all sincerity, I don’t think it matters whether you’re kneeling all day every day, until there is a shift or you talk to God and then leave it in his hands. I think what really matters is the state of our heart and our ability to let go of our desire to control every outcome of our lives. I think it has more to do with letting God do his job, whether that comes with a favourable or not-so-favourable answer in our eyes. All you need to do is speak to him, then release it. Cause how can he work it all out if you don’t leave it in his hands and let him do his job.
So, what if the answer to spiritual burnout isn’t more effort, but more surrender? Remember the story of Jacob in Genesis 32, when he wrestled all night with a man, later revealed to be God. At first glance, it looks like Jacob received the blessing because he refused to let go. But if we look closer, the real surrender wasn’t in his hands, but in his heart. Jacob had spent his whole life manipulating outcomes, grabbing at heels, crafting schemes, and running from accountability. But on that night, he was alone, vulnerable, and desperate, not just for safety, but for transformation. His grip on God wasn’t about control; it was about release. He let go of his pride, his self-sufficiency, and the fear that had driven him for years. And that’s when the blessing came, not in striving harder, but in finally surrendering the outcome to God. Because sometimes, surrender looks like clinging, not out of desperation to win, but out of a refusal to walk away without being changed.
Maybe that’s what we need, too. Not to keep pushing, fixing, or figuring things out, but to hold tightly to God while letting go of everything else. Because sometimes, the deepest healing happens not when we fight harder, but when we surrender deeper.
Let’s Say This Prayer Together:
Dear God,
It’s me again. I know your word says that if I ask for anything according to your will, you will hear me. But God, I’m still on my knees and I’ve been this way for a while: praying, wailing and waiting.
Abba, I can feel myself reaching a point of burnout. My soul is tired, and every day feels like a wrestle I’m slowly losing. So today, I choose to let go, not of my faith, but of every fear, control and pressure that is holding me back from a place of total surrender to you.
Daddy, help me to always remember that what truly matters is not how long or how loud I pray, but the state of my heart as I learn to let go and let you do your job. And on hard days, remind me that the deepest healing doesn’t always come from fighting harder, but from surrendering deeper.
Amen.
Hi guys, thanks for reading. Faith doesn’t always silence the questions, sometimes, it just teaches us where to bring them. This series is not about having all the answers; it’s about creating room to ask the hard ones. So if you’re doubting, hurting, or just tired of pretending, know this: God is not offended by your questions. He’s already in them, waiting to meet you with love, truth, and grace. So, keep showing up, keep asking, and keep believing, even with trembling hands. Because even in the questions… He is still God.
So if you are interested, please join us on this journey as we navigate the emotions we feel but are too scared to admit. Always remember, this is a safe space. If you have questions you would like us to address, do not hesitate to send us a message here-https://www.justhummingbird.com/contact-me/ or here-https://stats.sender.net/forms/e7ly1a/view