Catch and Release

I think often about how we learn to catch before we learn how to release. It’s part of our physical development.  Consider that baby who grabbed your necklace and wouldn’t let go.  They weren’t being stubborn: they didn’t know how to release yet!  They were not unwilling, they were unable.

We have the same learning curve in our spiritual development: we learn to grab and then we must learn to release. Catch/grab the vision that the Lord has placed in your heart, that’s wonderful!  Release back into the hands of the Lord what He has entrusted to you - that’s even more wonderful!  Learning to release will increase your peace and multiply your capacity. 

To grow into what God has next for you, to transition into your next season, you must be able to release today back into the Lord’s hand. We have so many examples of leaders in the Bible who successfully navigated transition, here are just a few:

• Moses transitioned from a prince of Egypt to a prophet who led the Israelites out of slavery into their Promised Land. 
• David transitioned from shepherd boy to King of Israel.  Once Samuel anointed him as king, it was literally years before he would ascend to the throne. We can relate to his faithfulness to the Lord as well as his human shortcomings.
• Esther was an orphan who transitioned to the throne of Persia.  Her bravery resulted in the rescue of an entire nation.
• Paul’s conversion at Damascus was dramatic, from persecutor of Christians to key figure in spreading the Gospel of Christ. 
• Our most important example for all we do, including transitioning well, is Jesus - He did not change from His original purpose, but we were witness to transitions in His life: infancy, young learner, ministry, betrayal, the Cross, the Resurrection. 

As you remember these histories, there’s one commonality in particular that I’d like you to notice:  in order to catch the next vision, they had to release the current one. I know - it seems so simple, does it even need to be said? Of course Moses could not remain in the palace and identify as Pharoah’s adopted son while he led the Israelites to the promised land. Of course David could not stay in the field tending sheep and lead Israel as king at the same time.  They could not accomplish the vision that the Lord set before them and stay where they were.

Let’s get some examples from our own lives: of course we cannot stay in high school and also leave for college at the same time.  Of course we cannot stay in one job and also accept the promotion or accept the new job elsewhere.  You have to let go of the old to move forward into the new. I mentioned earlier that learning to release will do two things: (1) increase your peace and (2) multiply your capacity. 

I notice that the more I try to control, the more I lose my peace. I'm unhappy and stressed when I am trying to control things that are not mine to control. We have to be able to discern when is our responsibility and what belongs to someone else. As a parent, it is my responsibility to communicate a curfew and take the car keys when curfew is missed too many times. It is not my responsibility to make my teen have a great attitude about it. I have to be at peace knowing I did my part (enforcing rule with love and patience), and leave their attitude (their responsibility) to them. As a Christian, I can communicate the importance of receiving Christ as Savior. It is not my responsibility to force my friend to receive Christ. I have to be at peace knowing I did my part (sharing the Gospel) and leave the Holy Spirit's work to the Holy Spirit. If I make it my job to force the teen into a great mood or force my friend to receive the benefits that serving the Lord brings, I lose my peace. I'm operating in an area where I don't belong. Give it back - or said in a better way: RELEASE that responsibility back to where it belongs. When I release responsibility that isn't mine, my peace returns.

Secondly, learning to release will increase your capacity. I am able to do more, steward more, hold more with an open hand than a closed fist. As we grow, our influence grows and we learn to release one thing so we can catch another - then we release that thing so we can catch the next, and so on.... Release is required to go on to what's next. There is always a next - memorize the words of the Lord in Isaiah 43:19 and repeat it to yourself daily, "Behold I am doing a new thing, even now it shall spring forth!"

Normalizing transition is also I’m talking about on the podcast today if you want to join me there!  (Surprise - the podcast is re-launching! Here's the link) On the podcast, I want to encourage you in a couple more ways: even though transition can be painful, it is not a betrayal. This is an important distinction to make as you work through these growing pains.  It is also entirely possible to celebrate both the season that you are leaving while you celebrate the season you are entering. Once you understand these things, you will not only transition successfully, you will be able to help the people around you transition successfully as well.

If we are to grow, if we are to allow the things around us to grow, we must learn to catch and we also must learn to release. Praying that you will develop this skill and navigate transition successfully. The ability to catch is a gift - knowing when to release is a treasure!

Jennifer