Joel Osteen Daily Devotional Sunday 27th August 2023 – Take Your Hands Off It

We all have situations that we feel pressured to fix, to straighten someone out, to force a door to open, to resolve a problem, to get a child back on course. We take matters into our own hands, strive and strain, and often end up frustrated. We have good intentions, but there are times when the best thing you can do is leave it alone. You have to “be still and know that He is God.” That battle is not yours.

The battle is the Lord’s. No matter how hard you try or how much pressure you put on, there are some things you can’t fix. If you keep forcing it and manipulating things, it not only brings more stress, but you’ll do more damage than good.

You know that your part is to believe for change, but there is this underlying pressure telling you, “You have to do something. You have to defend yourself. You have to manipulate things so you can get the promotion. You have to make your loved one do what’s right.” Don’t fall into that trap.

After you’ve prayed, you’ve believed, you’ve done what you can, you have to take your hands off it. “God, I trust You. I know You’ve got this. You’re working all things for my good. While I’m waiting, I’m going to stay in peace and let You do what only You can do.”

Only God can change some things. The more you try to force it, the more frustrated you’re going to be. The psalmist says, “Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain” (Psalm 127:1). How many of us are laboring in vain, constantly struggling, always trying to force things to happen, trying to change our spouse, or convince a coworker to like us, or harping on our kids to get back on course? It’s like we’re running uphill with leg weights on; everything’s a burden.

It’s okay to leave it alone. The Scripture says, “Those who have believed enter into rest” (Hebrews 4:3). Give yourself permission to rest, to not worry about it, to not strive. You’ve done your part, now take your hands off. It’s not going to happen by your might, by your power, by your intellect.

It’s going to be the hand of God. He is saying, “Leave it alone. Trust Me to handle it.” When you turn it over to Him, it takes the pressure off. You can live in peace, knowing that God’s got this. He’s in control. When it comes time for things to change, all the forces of darkness cannot stop what God has for you. The question is, Will you trust Him while you’re waiting?