Be Still and Let Him Till

Hey girl, hey!

We’re now 5 weeks into this summer’s devotional series, “Blossom and Flourish,” and I pray it’s been blessing you as much as it’s been blessing me. Personally, it’s helping me push through a season of change and uncertainty. I’m learning to truly lean into this life of faith. Really trusting God’s plan over my own, no matter how things may look.

And let’s be real: that’s way easier said than done.

But if we’re going to blossom and flourish the way God intends, we have to learn to get comfortable with the uncomfortable. And also, as we talked about last week, we can’t compare our journeys to anyone else’s.

Comparison is one of the quietest but most dangerous thieves of joy and faith. That’s why we spent time reflecting on how it can block growth. God created you with a unique, divine purpose that only you can fulfill as the written miracle that you are.

Today, I want to talk about another major barrier to growth: holding on to what God has called you to let go of.

We’ve all heard the phrase, “Let go and let God.” It might sound like a cliché or a T-shirt slogan, but it’s actually essential to our walk with Him. God is always looking to bless His children. He wants to do exceedingly and abundantly more in our lives. But often, we don’t realize we’re the ones standing in the way when we cling to the old while asking for the new.

Consciously, you might think, “No, I’m ready! I want the blessing, the breakthrough, the elevation, the new.” But subconsciously, we grip what’s convenient, comfortable, and give us a false sense of control.

One common example? Old relationships.

Over the years, I’ve learned that while God deeply values community, He’s serious about who His children are connected to. If a relationship isn’t aligned with His purpose for your life, He will ask you to release it. And while I’m focusing on relationships here, this applies to so many areas—jobs, mindsets, habits, and anything He’s asking you to surrender.

Before writing this devotional, an image came to mind of a clenched hand that was so closed you couldn’t see what was inside. The hand was full, occupied, and unable to receive anything else. That’s how I imagine we sometimes look to God when we’re holding on to what He’s told us to release.

If our lives are filled with people, places, or things that no longer serve His purpose, how can we receive what He’s trying to give us?

So what must we do instead?
Be still and let Him till.

Since this series is all about blossoming and flourishing, I’ve been seeing our lives through the lens of nature. It hit me: if we want to stop clinging to control and start growing?

We must be still and let God till.

When I looked up the meaning of till in gardening, I found a few powerful insights:

• Loosening the soil so roots can grow

• Mixing in nutrients like compost or fertilizer

• Removing weeds or old plant matter
  

• Creating space for water and air to nourish the roots

There’s so much spiritual depth in that. But today, I want to focus on just one: removing weeds or old plant matter.

God is the Master Gardener. He’s always ready to bring us into something new. And growth? It’s not optional. It’s expected. Scripture reminds us, “By their fruit you will recognize them” (Matthew 7:16).

And in John 15:2, Jesus makes it plain: “He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.”

This pruning—this removal of what’s no longer fruitful, is a necessary part of the process.

We are called to be a light, to grow, to possess the land, and to reflect God’s love and grace in a real and intentional way. That’s why we can’t afford to play around with growth, as it is a serious part of our walk with Jesus.

Being still doesn’t mean being stagnant or passive. It means releasing control. It’s about surrender. Allowing God to uproot the weeds, remove what’s dead or no longer fruitful, and make room for the new thing He’s preparing to do in your life.

Being still is about trusting. It’s unclenching your hand, loosening your grip, and opening yourself to receive what your Father is so ready to give.

I encourage you today to ask yourself: Am I praying to receive something new while still clinging to the old? Am I truly being still and surrendering this to God or am I holding on to comfort, convenience, and control?

Sis, you have to let go and let God.

It’s not easy, but it’s necessary.

And as we emphasized today: be still, and let Him till.

Let Him do the heart work. The deep work.

Because before He brings the harvest, He tends to the soil.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, My God in Heaven,

Thank You for always opening Your ears and arms to receive me. I know that I can come to You in every season of life. Rain or shine, You have always been my Sustainer, my Provider, and my Protector. All I need is You, and all I want is You.

Yet if I’m honest, I struggle to fully surrender. I confess the times I’ve chosen control, comfort, and convenience over Your perfect will. Forgive me, Lord, for the moments I’ve been disobedient or delayed what You’ve asked me to release.

Lord, I ask that Your will be done, Your kingdom come, on earth as it is in heaven. Do not let me stand in the way of what You want to do in me and through me.

Teach me to be still in Your presence. Help me to slow down, even when life feels rushed. Show me the people, places, and things I need to surrender to You. And whatever is not aligned with Your will, I ask that You remove it.

Strengthen my faith so I can let go fully and freely, without trying to hold on to what’s familiar. I trust that what You have for me is greater than anything I could ever plan for myself.

Change is hard, but I know it’s necessary for growth. It’s necessary so that good fruit can be produced in my life—fruit that brings You glory.

Have Your way, Lord, in every area of my life.

In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scriptures to meditate on this week:

“Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” (Psalm 46:10)

“He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.” (John 15:2)