Could someone please explain "let go and let God" to me?

Question

"Put it in God's hands;" "Trust God;" "The Lord will provide." Aren't these all just excuses for lack of effort? or rationalization for earlier failures?; or plain-old whistling in the dark because we don't, and can't, know the future?

I think the reader can guess what I believe: that attitude is lazy, delusional, and at worst dangerous, but very seductive to the credulous and the pollyannish. Someone who thinks different, try and convince me...

THANK YOU, CONSIGLIERE, for reminding me of that GROSS song; that's EXACTLY what I'm talking about. I'd rather have my 11 year old listen to gansta rap than that dreck; it's far more dangerous!

Answer 1

In a way you're right. It means to stop trying to control everything and relax. To me it's very close to the Zen idea of trying by not trying.

But that only is good advice for people who want to control too much. For people who are already passive and lazy, that isn't very good advice. They're already kicking back and expecting God to do everything for them so telling them to let go and let God is just adding fuel to their laziness-fire.

Better advice to the passive and lazy among us: get off your duff and work for the Kingdom of God.

Answer 2

Ther are some things we can't control ... ok, there are many things we can't control. Such as health problems, decisions by others that affect us, demands we have to meet, what the boss will say, the color of our skin, our family... on and on.
All things come from God and are under his control. First, this is NOT an excuse to lbe lazy or lazy-minded, it is the acknowledgement that we need God's help. There is plenty of warning against being lazy and dull (one of the seven deadlies is sloth, and wisdom is to be pursued, those who don't work shouldn't eat, and the Bible never says anything about retirement).
When we live knowing God loves us and have seen him answer prayer time and again in big and small things - then yes it brings faith to turn to God. We are told to give over our fears and trials, let it go, and let him work. Some times we even get in the way of what he wants to do -we are impatient, think we know better...etc.That is what God wants us to do. It is very hard to do because we are so "me in my own strength" conditioned. But when I have prayed specifically and watched God work it is far better and more effective than I could ever be.
There is something in every trial, every difficulty to be gained. That is what God does too, you see, a life lived in faith that God always wants the best for me is an abundant life in trial and joy - which has plenty of both.

Answer 3

If I hadn't had the attitude of trusting in God for some things, I would have had a breakdown or a heart attack by now. Some people have real problems that no amount of anal-retentive micromanagement, or even wise long-range planning, will solve. Trusting God in those situations has nothing to do with laziness or lack of effort.

Answer 4

Boy, are you angry. I think perhaps you have never really experienced the wonder of God for yourself. I have been religious all my life. Recently my Son had a horrific car accident. Four people in the car died. He and another guy lived. He had a one in 99 chance of living. I prayed and knew that if I "put it in God's hands" that the best would come. I prayed, I trusted God and I believed that he would do what was right whatever that may be.
God has definately blessed me. My Son is still alive even though he has a long way to go. Without the glory of God he wouldn't be here.
He said he was an atheist before this all happened. He thought he had died. He actually saw his body on the bed. He somehow knew we were praying. When he got just a bit better he started to hold my hand and kept a rosary in his hand. He knows that without God he would not be here. He may not be a holy roller, and either am I, but I do know that he is here only by the grace of God. Even the Drs call him their "miracle".
Who do you turn to when things get so bad you cannot cope? Where does your faith lye? I wonder, because I do know that without God, without the prayers he would not be here. No one will ever take that away.
I also am a three time cancer survivor. Not once, twice, but three times. I myself have been terminal before and know what it is like.
You have to have faith in someone, something to go on from day to day. You simply cannot be foolish enough to think that YOU are responsible for everything you do. There is a higher power out there.
I respect your opinion as I respect all opinions. I believe in freedom of speech and freedom of religion. I just know that for me......God is Good!!!!

Answer 5

What will it take for you To "Put it in "Gods" hands, Death to late, sickness , prison , Etc, what about taking every thing away because what you have is not from Him but some other spirit, If you don't have God own your side you have already lost no matter what you do how hard you work because you are no different then anyone else Old"moued will kick you in your but, maybe you can understand that kind of talk, and you will see lack of effort, when you lack to seek Him to me you are as dumb as you see me, stupid is the word any one this day in time denying God and cant tell you nothing at all about Him that is scary,,,,, Remember this Jesus Loves me this I know because when you think of it when Satan starts to torment you, That is all that can save you, Jesus; God have Mercy own This lost and blinded and confused soul, and always in the darkest days of your life Jesus loves you. Merry Christmas and the true meaning of Christmas is in His words of wisdom and it was so that you might be saved.It ones choice, And Always TRUST God" God tells me to tell you and all like you that is asking for proof and "Try to convince me to go read Jonah..weather you do is up to you, But I have told you what the Lord has told me too,

Answer 6

Indeed, it's as silly as doctors prescribing drugs to seniors that actually increases heart failure rather than decreasing it.

As for plural hands, Hebrews 10:31 notes it's a "fearful" thing to fall into the "hands" of awful lawful God on high, obviously a fall from the higher merciful God; Which is as falling from grace to law vs law in Galatians 5:4; as from peace to war.

I agree with your attitdue about 'dangerous helps' of

"many" shall come to DECEIVE, so take heed, lest you be deceived and thereafter devoured by such

dragonic law <--> law going to <--> fro the earth.

may you make it to end of the shew written alive unto God

Answer 7

You have to trust God to show the right way. You still have to do your part. You can't just sit around and do nothing. There are all kinds of rules that God has given us to follow and one of them is to help yourself. If you pray and contemplate your problem, God will help you decide what is right.

Answer 8

some people do use the mentality to be lazy but the bible teaches us that you have to take action for God to take action. when the children of israel were told by God to go to war, God won the wars for them but they still had to fight. Everything ever accomplished in the bible always came from someone taking action. but they trusted in God, they put it in his hands, and the Lord provided. Good question!

Answer 9

What you are letting go of is worry, not effort. If you pray about bad situations and let God handle it then your effort will be rewarded because "praying without works is dead" which means that you can not just pray about things, you actually have to "do" as well. You should have gotten the answer first before going off about trusting God is being lazy.

Answer 10

my advice to you.. when I first heard of this,, i was running my own life and my own will. and i was wrong,, because nothing seem to be going the way i wanted to and i always ended up blaming God for not supporting me. I came to realized that trusthing in God and letting him run my life didn't mean ohh here you go do as you please. I had to also work for it,, how.. by rediming my self to him.. devoting my self to him.. and trully waiting in him to do what he has planned for me... let me give you just an example of how it happened,, the first time i let it in his hands. although it may seem silly to some,, i would get fustrated because at 16 i didn't have a boyfriend ,, and my lil sis had her first boyfriend at 9.. right so i was getting all fustrated and all, well it was then when i hear that preaching "trust in God he will answered",, ok it was for me,, soo i did,, i started praying leting into his hands , reading the bible fasting,, truelly waiting in him not just sitting around for him to answer me. at first it was very hard. but as teh time passed it kept getting easier and i had forgotten everything that i was serching for (a boy friend) well i told God way before i started truelly trusting in him for a singnal of teh man i was going to married,, and i forgot about that too,, well let me tell you that at the age of 18 nearly 19. met this guy, we went out and at that day Giod showed me that signal i asked him,, right there i knew that all you had to do was truelly waiting in him. and he would give you even more than you asked for,, i wanted to get married at 27,, but God had different plans,,, and we got married at well i was 19 nearly 20,, now i'm 21,, going to have a baby on febuary and i am as happy as i can be,,, and now i know that leting your self go and allowing God to run it for you its worth it.

its no easy thing to do,, but those who can achieve it,, get what your asking for in a greatter value.

Answer 11

God also stated that we should work for six days, and rest on the seventh day just as He did. I don't think it literally means sit on your butt, do nothing, and God will give you everything you need. God helps those who help themselves. If I sat here all of my life and said "God I want a million dollars", there is no way I would get it, and why should I?