Teetering just a bit?

All the art of living lies in a fine mingling of letting go and holding on. (Havelock Ellis)

We all must learn how to let go and hold on at almost the same time. If you have ever seen a baby learning to walk, you know the tiny fingers hold tightly to the edge of the couch with one hand, while the other is reaching out so desperate to take that first step toward something they desire. It is kind of like that for us as we follow Christ - we long for something different, just out of reach, but we are holding onto something so desperately that we won't let go in order to achieve that end. 

Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy. (Ephesians 4:21-24)

We 'hear' truth, want to really reach out and take hold of it, but we are holding tightly to what we have come to trust in already. Right or wrong, we won't let go of the thing we believe will give us the security and safety we have come to know. God's plan has always been for us to learn to 'let go' of those things that hold us back and 'take hold' of the things that will help us propel forward (grow). Letting go isn't done in a vacuum because there is always something in sight (just out of reach) that we want to take hold of in turn.

As Ellis said, it is the mingling of the two that actually helps us grow - letting go and holding on. The baby only holds on as long as he sees the thing he desires is finally in reach, then he lets go and takes those steps toward the object of his desire. God may be asking some of us to let go of something that has made us feel 'secure' and reach out to something just a bit out of our comfort zone. Putting off one thing and taking hold of another. When he does, he is prepared to help us take those 'first steps', always there to encourage us and help us should we teeter a bit in our faith. Just sayin!