“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your
paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5,6 (NIV)
I recently saw a cartoon drawing of Jesus kneeling down in front of a small girl who is holding a little teddy bear. His hand is outstretched as if asking for her bear. She’s sad and is saying, “But I love it, God.” Little does she know that behind His back He is holding a larger, more beautiful teddy bear and He is saying, “Just trust me.”
How many times in our lives do we hold on to things, events, loved ones, and grudges, while God whispers to us, “If you just let it go and
surrender it all to Me, I will bless you! I know what is best for you. Just trust Me!”
When I was younger, I feared losing my loved ones. I held on so tight and was always so anxious and worried about losing them. One day I was praying and worrying, and God brought that hymn to my mind, “I Surrender All.” That day I let go and gave them over to God. “All to Jesus I surrender, All to Him I freely give; I will ever love and trust Him, In His presence daily live.” I gave Jesus my “little teddy bear.”
It has not been easy, and I have still lost loved ones along the way, but I also know God does not make mistakes — He is still with me, and I know I can lean on Him for everything. He has blessed me with the larger, more beautiful “teddy bear.” All I had to do was let go and surrender.
“Lord, I give myself to Thee; Fill me with Thy love and power, Let Thy blessing fall on me.”
— Leana Patenaude
Council Fire is a collaboration with Intertribal Life Ministries and Native Evangelical Fellowship of Canada.
The Council Fire Daily Devotional Book Set is available on the Intertribal Life Ministries website.
Learn more about Council Fire at councilfire365.org