Ever been so worried about what’s gone wrong that you miss what’s going right? Sometimes, we’re so fixated on what feels broken that we overlook God's work in other areas. In this devotion, award-winning Bible teacher, Dianna Hobbs, says let go of your expectations and give up control, and watch God do more than you ever imagined!

Dried blood caked her face, stark against the sterile white of the hospital neck brace that seemed to choke her comfort. My lips quivered, struggling to hold back the flood of tears.

But I couldn’t stop them.

They betrayed me, spilling over, tracing the contours of my grief. I had never seen my older sister, Shavette, so broken, so fragile. The reality that I was powerless to ease her pain only deepened my anguish.

"I'm sorry," she whispered, her voice a faint echo of strength, as tears welled up in her eyes. I reached out, tenderly wiping them away. "I didn't mean to crash your car," she continued, her words barely audible.

"It's just a car," I reassured her, my voice steady. "I can replace my car; I can't replace you. I'm just grateful you're alive."

And we wept together, our tears mingling in shared sorrow and relief as she lay there in the ER, consumed with remorse over the wreckage of my vehicle.

Don’t get me wrong. I loved that old, rusty, light blue hatchback—a symbol of my independence as a 20-year-old college student. Despite its lack of power steering and the effort required to park it, it was my treasure. Losing it hurt. The day it met its demise, my sister had borrowed it for a quick errand.

"I'll be right back," she had promised.

I remember the lightness in my step, having just fixed a taillight, relieved that I could now drive to campus without the threat of a ticket. But then came the knock, the words that plunged my day into chaos: "Your sister's been in an accident." I rushed to her side without a second thought.

Her recovery was long and painful. The car, now a mangled heap of metal, was beyond saving. Yet, the overwhelming joy of her survival eclipsed any grief for the loss of my first car. Imagine if my focus had been solely on the loss—if the wreckage had blinded me to the miracle of her life being spared and her gradual return to health.

Delicate Balance

Reflect for a moment on the nature of wreckage and restoration. Though opposites, they often walk hand in hand through our lives, teaching us lessons of gratitude and perspective. Imagine if, after an accident, we could only see the twisted metal and shattered glass, becoming blind to the precious life that emerged unscathed. Such a skewed perspective would taint the beauty of survival with bitterness for what was lost, right?

It is here, in the delicate balance between what we've lost and what we've gained, what was wrecked and what was restored, that we find a profound parallel in the Gospel of Mark 3:1-6.

The Pharisees, the keepers of the law, stood as the embodiment of religious rigidity in Jesus' time. They were meticulous accountants of righteousness, their ledger filled with the deeds and misdeeds of their peers. Their adherence to the law was absolute, their interpretation unyielding. In their eyes, Jesus was a disruptor, a challenge to their order, and they awaited Him in the synagogue not with hearts open to miracles but with minds plotting to catch Him in an act of defiance.

In the synagogue, a place where the broken could find hope, Jesus encountered a man whose hand had lost its vitality, its ability to engage with the world. This man's withered hand was not just a physical ailment; it symbolized diminished prospects, silenced dreams, and the isolation that often accompanies impairment. The Pharisees watched, their gaze sharp and calculating, as Jesus approached this man. They were not moved by compassion or the prospect of divine intervention; they were there to uphold the letter of the law, even above the value of human life.

How sad that they viewed Jesus so wrongly—as a destroyer rather than the restorer He was and is today. But Jesus, aware of their presence and their test, turned the moment into a profound teaching.

He asked, "Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?"

The question hung in the air, challenging not just the Pharisees' authority but their very understanding of God's law. Was the law given to bring life or to deny it? Was adherence to the Sabbath so strict that it would silence the heart of compassion?

The Pharisees remained silent, imprisoned by their doctrine. But Jesus, moved with righteous anger and sorrow for their hardened hearts, commanded the man to stretch out his hand. In that act of faith, restoration flowed; the man's hand was healed, whole once again. The Pharisees, however, could not see the glory of God in this act. Their vision, clouded by the debris of their rigid beliefs, missed the miracle of restoration that had taken place before their very eyes.

Let Go

This story speaks to us across the ages, reminding us not to become so fixated on what we perceive as broken that we fail to see the work of redemption, healing, and restoration God is doing in our midst. It invites us to break free from the narrow confines of our expectations and embrace the fullness of God's redemptive work—work that often defies logic and transcends our limited understanding.

Today, God sent me to tell you to let go and let God have His way. His ways are better. They are higher! In the letting go of our way, we witness the alignment of His will. In the letting go, miracles happen. In the letting go, chains are broken. In the letting go, ways are made. In the letting go, restoration begins to flow like a river. In the letting go, renewal comes like the dawn. In the letting go, God rebuilds what was torn down. In the letting go, He regenerates what was dead. In the letting go, we see the salvation of the Lord.

When we surrender our will to the Lord's, when we lay down our attempts at control, when we admit our powerlessness and His supreme power, that's when the heavens open up. That's when miracles descend like rain. That's when the impossible becomes possible. That's when the Lord moves mountains on our behalf. That's when He parts the seas of our troubles. That's when He breathes life into dry bones. That's when He turns mourning into dancing. That's when He gives beauty for ashes.

In the mysterious economy of the Kingdom of God, a divine paradox exists that we find embodied in the words of Christ Himself. In John 12:24, Jesus shares with us a profound metaphor: “Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.”

Here, Jesus speaks of His impending sacrifice, a moment in history that would forever change the trajectory of humanity. The kernel of wheat—Jesus Himself—is poised at the threshold of the ultimate act of love. His death is not an end but a beginning, a necessary surrender to unleash a harvest of hope, redemption, and new life. The grain of wheat, though small and seemingly insignificant, harbors a world of potential within. But it is only through its burial, through its embrace of the earth, that this potential is unlocked and multiplied.

This divine principle resonates with our journey. Much like the kernel of wheat, there are things in our lives that must be laid down, released, surrendered, and, in a sense, allowed to die so that new life can spring forth. It is a cycle of renewal that we witness in the natural world but also feel deeply within the spiritual realm. Our losses, our sacrifices, and our moments of letting go are not in vain—they are the fertile soil from which God brings forth new growth, new opportunities, and new blessings. We must trust in the divine gardener, who knows precisely when to plant and when to harvest.

I Know

I know trust is easier said than done. I know your plans aren’t working out the way you hoped, and the path before you seems shrouded in uncertainty. I know you sometimes feel confused about what God is doing, as if His blueprint for your life is a puzzle with missing pieces.

I know losing and giving up what you feel you most need hurts, leaving a void that echoes with the question of "Why?" I know the pain of financial strain weighs heavily, stretching your faith thin as you wonder how ends will meet.

I know marital strife can make a home feel like a battleground, and the dream of harmony seems like a distant memory. I know family grievances can tarnish the golden moments you once shared, leaving a trail of regret and longing.

I know the wayward paths of children can cause your heart to ache with worry, as you pray for their return to safety. I know diseases can challenge your strength, testing your spirit with trials that seem beyond endurance.

I know dreams deferred can make the heart sick and your faith feel weak. I know the grip of hopelessness and depression can cloud your days, making the light of joy appear faint and far away. I know you might feel forsaken by God, wrestling with the silence that meets your cries for answers.

But remember, in these moments of deep despair, you are not alone. God sees you, God knows you, and God is with you. And He sent this message to give you confirmation, consolation, and validation that His love is steadfast, His purpose is sure, and His presence is a promise that you can hold onto through every season of life.

It’s time for you to surrender all; let go and let God have His way. Let go and watch Him work wonders. Let go and expect the miraculous. For, in the letting go, there is gaining. In the letting go, there is receiving. In the letting go, there is a holy restoration that only the Lord can bring about.

Don't be like the Pharisees—so married to your way and personal convictions—that you fail to surrender to God who can do exceedingly, abundantly, above all we can ask or think (Ephesians 3:20)!

I’m here to tell you that God is up to something amazing, friend! His plan, His execution, and His Word are flawless. Only He has the power to bring things together perfectly, so trust in Him alone.

To strengthen your faith and resolve to do things God’s way, I’m stirring Psalm 18:30 NIV into your cup of inspiration, which says, “As for God, his way is perfect: The LORD's word is flawless; he shields all who take refuge in him.”

As you drink down the contents of your cup, lift your hands and surrender, for our God is in the business of making all things new. He is the artist of restoration, the architect of redemption, the author of resurrection.

Let go, and let God paint His masterpiece on the canvas of your life. Let go, and let God construct a testimony from the rubble. Let go, and let God write your story of victory.

Let go, and let God do what only God can do.

Let go, and let God have His way.

Now, let's pray.

God, I come before You seeking the strength to release my grasp on the plans I have made, so that I may wholeheartedly embrace the greater plans You have ordained for me. Help me to see beyond the boundaries of my understanding, to the boundless possibilities You have in store. In this act of surrender, I am confident that Your perfect will shall be done, and my life will be an awe-inspiring testament to Your glory and goodness. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.

Hear Dianna discuss this devotion live from Empowering Everyday Women Ministries Studios.