Mastering the Art of Release

There is freedom just beyond the release. 

Trust that God is going before you. 

Know this, some things are ended to guard your life against disaster!

I am becoming increasingly convinced that living life well is largely about being able to let go and move into new assignments without constantly looking back to grieve the end of a previous season.  

Yesterday, as my team was in a deep discussion about plans on how to move ahead from an ended season, I received a personal revelation... 

The heaviest pain comes when releasing isn't done quickly. Holding on too long certainly causes one to carry a load of responsibility that is not theirs to carry. I believe this occurs when a deep lack of trust is present. 

There was a significant amount of time spent on unpacking that thought...

I know from experience that correcting this kind of internal issue is not simple. It takes much more than just wanting to be better, it takes personal work - intentional work. And, in what I have experienced and witnessed in these years of 1:1 ministry work, mastering the skill of "releasing" is quite elusive for most who tire of doing the work. 

Mastery is attainable and it is a result of practice!

For those of us who function as ministry leaders, it is imperative that we have the time to know the individuals on our team. We are responsible to minister to them, this is foundational in leading well. Here are some thoughts that I have on how to lead people into better "releasing" action. 

• Releasing" is most difficult for those who connect their sense of worth to belonging and/or being able to bring significant help to those around them. These folks will internalize failure when their efforts do not produce visible results for the group/organization/project for which they are working. This may be you or it could be someone you know. So here are some thoughts on helping the initiate a release: 

 - Helping these folks usually means partnering to help bridge the gap between their effort and the needed result. Just about every idea bears merit, and portions of any idea can be salvaged, reworked and somehow and implemented. As I've learned to manage projects and people more wisely, I have learned to incorporate ideas and portions of an idea... so that our entire team can feel their belonging is solid. Speak out loud your gratitude for their input and do not take credit for their contributions! When the season is over, celebrate the successes and focus on the wins that they brought to the project. This sets the tone for them to end a project assignment well. 

• Releasing is also extremely difficult for those who pour without limit into whatever assignment is before them. These folks give 100% of themselves day in and day out, and if they are connected to a group/organization/project where they are not fed and replenished in return, they are literally being depleted of their energy and substance. The law of nature is that fruitfulness is a give & take relationship. For a vine to produce it must be cared for. Even a wild vine must be given space, water, sunlight, and pollination. This may be you or it could be someone you know. So here are some thoughts on helping the initiate a release: 

 - Helping this personality type generally means helping them to set a limit on hours worked, the number of projects they get involved in; and then intentionally providing nutrition in the form of permission for them to do personal care (time away, financial gifts, artistic outlets, etc.).

• Releasing seems impossibly difficult to the person who tends to put down roots. These folks tend to be 'one-thing' focused - think roots that are deep and entrenched. Like a fruit tree... A lemon tree is concerned only with producing lemons, it is "one thing" focused. For these folks, should that "one thing" be taken away they can succumb to feeling useless, defeated, or rejected. This is a dark cycle that if not interupted can lead to severe depression. This may be you or it could be someone you know. So here are some thoughts on helping the initiate a release: 

- I'm still figuring this one out. At this point, I believe that it's important to take a practical approach to help "one-thing" people understand that there are seasons of fruitfulness, seasons of pruning, seasons of winter, seasons of drought... and then giving them permission to maintain a personal outlet (such as journaling) to help them deal with the season that they have the most difficult time with. 


Practice the art of release. Start today. Release past things (professional and personal) that seemed to end too soon:
• Ministry assignments
• Employment positions 
• Business ventures 
• Artistic partnerships
• Friendships
• Romance/Marriage