Shaking the Dust and Moving On

I don't like letting go. I especially don't like letting go of situations in which I have deeply invested my heart.

It is never comfortable to leave people, places, things, or even projects and dreams that are important to us. But often in dead-end circumstances, or when we are being called into something new, there comes time to "shake the dust from our feet" and move on.

Jesus commanded the Apostles to do this throughout their mission of evangelization. "And as for those who do not welcome you, when you leave that town, shake the dust from your feet in testimony against them" (Luke 9:5).

When we "shake the dust from our feet," we recognize that ultimately God is at work. We let go of the need to control, force solutions, or to try to fix things by our own power. We recognize that something bigger than ourselves is at work here: God Himself. We can surrender to Him and trust in His work within ourselves. We can also trust in His work within each person around us.

We can let go and let God.

What do you need to let go of? In what area of your life do you need to shake off the dust and move on?

An unhealthy relationship? That thing you did in the past that you still regret? That thing someone else did to you that still keeps you down? Bad habits? Guilt that doesn't actually belong to you? Negative thoughts of judgment and self-criticism? Idealized dreams that are not your calling? Fear of stepping out and becoming who God is inviting you to become?

It can be scary to let go and move on, especially when it is uncertain what will come next. But God has blessed and guided us until this point, and He will continue to be with us as we move forward. The Responsorial Psalm reminds us, "So now consider what he has done for you, and praise him with full voice."

It's time to let go and let God as we praise Him along the journey.

We can let go and let God. // Mary Catherine CraigeClick to tweet

Pray this prayer of the great Doctor of the Church, Saint Teresa of Avila, today.

Mary Catherine Craige enjoys spending her time dancing, writing, playing the Irish harp and surfing the ocean waves of northeast Florida. As a transformational life coach, she supports strong women to create beauty out of challenging circumstances and to live a life of abundance, freedom and joy as the person God has created them to be. She is a contributing author to our children's devotional prayer book, Rise Up. You can find out more about her here.