I’ll admit, I don’t know a whole lot about T.D. Jakes, but the other day (when I was feeling sorry for myself that someone left Southbrook, spewing and spinning all the way out the door) his book caught my eye.
Or rather, a chapter title within it did.
“Let’em Walk”
Since that doesn’t really mean much in and of itself, I really believe it was God who drew me further on to read. And, as it turns out, T.D. was addressing the very frustration I had, namely…
What do you do about people who decide to leave the church and toss a few hand grenades into the body on the way out the door?
· Do you have a meeting?
· Rally the troops?
· Build a coalition?
· Get your side of the story out?
· Yell and scream or stomp your feet?
· Cry?
No, you just, “Let’em Walk.”
That’s it—pure and simple. You Let’em Walk.
I know it’s not very sexy. It certainly doesn’t make for a good, steamy novel. Certainly, no one is going to want the movie rights to such a boring, uneventful story, but often it does have one very attractive thing going for it.
It’s the right thing to do.
When you’re doing something you know God has called you to do—that’s right, morally, on vision, tracking with the mission, etc., believe it or not, not everyone is going to be happy about it. Last time I checked, Jesus actually did everything right and the majority determined death to be the solution for Him.
And when Jesus stood before a man who thought he had all the power—Pontius Pilate—and said nothing—He set an example for the rest of us.
“Let’em Walk.”
Have you ever thought about whether or not it would have made any difference for Jesus to take up Pontius Pilate on his offer? Seriously. What if Jesus thought, “You know, Pontius is the governor, he does carry a lot of weight and influence. Maybe He can rescue me if I just give “My side of the story.”
That even sounds silly, doesn’t it?
The truth is, it would have made no difference whatsoever. Jesus came to die and Pontius actually had no say in the matter. As Jesus said in John 19:11, “You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above. Therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin.”
So, I’ve recently had a revelation in this area of my life. It was powerful, and it was amazingly freeing. Seriously, you ought to look into it if you have been allowing people to hold your heart hostage. Wanna know the secret to freedom from this particular form of bondage?
Simply, Let’em Go!
* BTW There are always some (Chrisitan KGB types) who read into things and think they have it “figured out.” Pastor Rob is talking about so and so. One word…Wrong. This doesn’t refer to someone in particular, but rather the whole deal of trying to convince people to stay in your life, or on mission, or at your church when—they don’t want to. Better to “Let’em Walk.”
And now, without further adeiu, T.D. Jakes
The following is by T. D. Jakes
There are people who can walk away from you. And hear me when I tell you this! When people can walk Away from you: let them walk.
I don’t want you to try to talk another person into staying with you, Loving you, calling you, caring about you, coming to see you, Staying attached to you.
I mean hang up the phone. When people can walk away from you let them walk. Your destiny is never tied to anybody that left. The Bible said that, they came out from us that it might Be made manifest that they were not for us. For had they been of us, no doubt they Would have continued with us. [1 John 2:19] People leave you because they are not joined to you. And if they are not joined to you, you can’t make them stay. Let them go. And it doesn’t mean that they are a bad person it just means That their part in the story is over. And you’ve got To know when people’s part in your story is over so that you Don’t keep trying to raise the dead. You’ve got to know when it’s dead. You’ve got to know when it’s over. Let me tell you something. I’ve got the gift of good-bye. It’s the tenth spiritual gift, I believe in good-bye. It’s not that I’m hateful, it’s that I’m faithful, and I know whatever God Means for me to have He’ll give it to me. And if it takes too much sweat I don’t need it. Stop begging people to stay.
Let them go!!
If you are holding on to something that doesn’t belong to you And was never intended for your life, then you need to…… LET IT GO!!! If you are holding on to past hurts and pains …… LET IT GO!!! If someone can’t treat you right, love you back, And see your worth….. LET IT GO!!! If someone has angered you, LET IT GO!!! If you are holding on to some thoughts of evil and revenge…… LET IT GO!!! If you are involved in a wrong relationship or addiction…… LET IT GO!!! If you are holding on to a job that no longer meets Your needs or talents LET IT GO!!! If you have a bad attitude……. LET IT GO!!! If you keep judging others to make yourself feel better…… LET IT GO!!! If you’re stuck in the past and God is trying to take You to a new level in Him…….. LET IT GO!!! If you are struggling with the healing of a broken relationship……. LET IT GO!!! If you keep trying to help someone who won’t even Try to help themselves…… LET IT GO!!! If you’re feeling depressed and stressed ……… LET IT GO!!! If there is a particular situation that you are so used to Handling yourself and God is saying “take your hands off of it,” then you need to…… LET IT GO!!! Let the past be the past. Forget the former things. GOD is doing a new thing for this New Year! LET IT GO!!! Get Right or Get Left .. Think about it, and then, LET IT GO!!! “The Battle is the Lord’s!”