Let God be God?

People often say, “Let God be God.” I never understood that.

Of course, God is God. No one needs to let God be who God is. But I think what people meant might be more along the lines of advice my spiritual director gave me when he said, “Let God do what only God can do.” In other words, stop trying to do what only God can do. Get out of the way.

For example:

• I cannot form myself into the image of Christ. I can make myself available, tell God of my desire, pray scripture, and focus daily on God, but if what I know about God is to move from my head to my heart and from my heart to my behavior, God must do the work.

• I cannot legitimately judge anyone. Only God knows a person’s heart. I have no basis to say who’s saved, who’s not saved, who’s in or who’s out. That’s God’s business. Like Jesus told Peter, (I paraphrase), “Never mind about what John’s supposed to do – your job is to follow me and do what I just told you to do, which is to care for my lambs.”

• I can’t fix the world’s problems. What I can do is pray, “Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” Let God do what only God can do.

• I can’t rescue, save, or fix anyone. I can love them, pray for them, and perhaps help meet a material need. No one needs my advice or my wisdom. Everyone needs God’s wisdom and guidance. I need to stop trying to change people. Spouses, parents and children, friends and coworkers are too often locked in a battle to change one another like two rams butting heads. I need to trust God to change what needs changing.

• I can’t change anyone’s mind. Many people are simply not teachable. They are not open. Their minds are made up. I can, as opportunity arises, debate in a civil manner. Perhaps someone will be persuaded. They are most likely to consider what I have to say if I have a relationship with them, if they know me enough to know my motive is not to be right, if I take the time to respectfully listen. If what I am sharing is truth, the One who is Truth will convince them, not me.

• No amount of planning or saving can insulate me from trails, disappointments, or difficulties. I own nothing. God asks me to be generous to the point of extravagance, in using that with which God has entrusted me to serve others, most especially the poor, sick, and displaced. It’s not my job to hoard so I won’t need to trust God. God can and will take care of me. Let God be God.

• I long for a deep, intimate relationship with God that is so thoroughly integrated into my life that it becomes who I am. I can (and should) read, pray, study, learn, listen, be attentive, and think deeply, but none of that will accomplish what I desire unless God does what only God can do.