We all remember the tune from the Beatles, ‘Let It Be.’ These words of wisdom are some that we need to take to heart. The three little words remind us that we cannot control everything. There are some things, which just happen. We just have to tell ourselves to let it be. It is hard to do that sometimes. In Revelations 3:14, we find these concluding words to a litany of prophecy: “And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God.” Although ‘Amen’ is mentioned in the Old and New Testaments, its semantics in the context of Revelations carries its familiar meaning, i.e., ‘let it be so.’ When we say ‘amen,’ we are saying ‘let it be.’ We are acknowledging God’s sovereignty and our limitations. Let it be.
As parents, we want to fix things for our children. We want to make everything all right. Often when we do this, we find ourselves trying to take control of something in which we have no business being involved. Instead of helping our children, we end up hurting them. We need to let it be. The truth is the more we stir stuff, the more it stinks. We just will not leave well enough along. The good news and the strength we find in letting it be is that God is in control. If we leave it alone, God will work out the situation according to his will and design for our lives and the building of his Kingdom. We just need to let it be.
Although we think we have the power and the know how to do everything (and want to put our two cents worth into every situation), we just need to let it be. We have the potential of making a good situation bad, and a bad situation worse. Let it be. In this life, there will be opportunities for God to use us to work out a situation. God will reveal to us through his grace revealed in Jesus Christ those problems and crises which require our expertise and guidance to work out. This same grace will communicate to us when we have done enough, because, everything cannot be repaired, and everyone does not want to take the steps needed to improve themselves. Just let it be. Leave it alone.
Some of us have trouble with shutting our mouths and resisting the temptation to try to be all things to all people, when the Lord has said to us—let it be. We often get caught up in human pride tricking us into believing that we know more than God, and that we are God. Here is breaking news—if God cannot do it no one can, and if God does not want it to happen, it will not. Let it be. Many of us have tried to help people get off drugs, make better choices with relationships, and bent over backwards to help someone avoid a catastrophe. Although we meant well, the person remained on drugs, continued in bad relationships, or ended up facing the catastrophic situation. Some people have to learn on their own that fat meat is greasy. Let it be.
Those of us who like to fix things and people and situations, let us pray together: “God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; the courage to change the things I can; and the wisdom to know the difference.” In the words of this old hymn, “One day at a time, sweet Jesus, that’s all I ask of you. Just give the strength to do everything one day at a time.” Let it be. Amen.
