From almost every angle, the world demands that we get and hold on to personal good that can be seen, felt, and—especially—owned. If owning good in some form were what actually established our individual worth, then our worth would seem to be material. It follows that not owning material things—or even not “owning” hoped-for relationships or positions or status—would mean we are less valued, less cared for. But a spiritual understanding of God leads to trust in a divine good that always provides—and with precision. 

As we increasingly let go of outlining how our needs should be met, our trust in God grows, and we are able to relinquish fears and human expectations. A humble willingness to listen for and follow God’s leading is necessary for us to be able to grow.

I had an experience in which it took me too long to let go of something that I deeply valued and thought I needed to keep for myself. For a lot of important reasons, it was so right that I give my son and his kids the two-year-old dog that I had loved and raised from seven weeks old. I knew it was the best thing to do for several months before I finally did it. The family had been struggling through some very difficult times, and the dog’s love for them clearly brought them joy. They loved him as much as he loved them.