Giving it up to God, but not giving up

The parable of the prodigal son is a polarising tale for the father.  He must watch his son literally risk bankruptcy, embarrassment, ridicule, failure and death, and all the while never loses faith.  It’s a parable of the Father’s unfailing, unconditional, insatiable love for us all (John 17:23) propagated through open arms held wide open throughout our lifespan.  But this parable is one that occasionally springs to relevance in our lifetimes — when we have a son or daughter or other loved one who insists upon continuing along a path of destruction.  Suddenly we find ourselves in the ‘valley of decision’ where no decision seems palatable.  Life can seem so brutally unfair in some of the situations we can find ourselves.

It’s not just in family situations that this happens.  Life is littered with moments where neither of two decisions is appealing.  Perhaps a third decision option, or a fourth or fifth comes into view; can’t go there either!  Whichever way you look there’s no way to a choice you are content with.

There are so many of these moments in life, and the longer we live it seems the more of them that come our way.  These situations are not meant to drive us to despair, but we often go there, realising it never helps and can only harm, before we find a better way.

When love is pushed all the way to giving up, exasperated and perhaps confused, knowing all its efforts are futile, it gives it up to God, and in so doing, love does not give up.

Love holds the tensions of conflict where peace is vanquished, but by faith love keeps sowing right deeds and ultimately reaps a harvest of peace for never giving up.  But for love to be achieved, the issue and the relationship must be given up to God.

Love is wisdom that never gives up, even if it has to give up enough to say, “God, I cannot do this anymore.  Over to you.”  Love never gives up, but wisely recognises when a path of action has become futile.  Love doesn’t continue to knock its head against a brick wall.

This is something that’s applicable for us all.  All of us have situations in our lives where we cannot afford to give up, but we must at the same time.  Love dictates that we give it over to God in faith, and even though for all intents and purposes it might look like ambivalence, love has a long-term view on the most challenging of circumstances.

Love has faith in the long-term plan, which is the wisdom of accepting what it cannot change.

Just like the father who could not give up on his errant son, and the Father who cannot give up on us when we run astray, we also need to let go of all that consumes us, accepting that this is the only way that particular hope returns; if it comes back of its own accord.