Letting Go & Finding Peace

By: Julie Catania-Shady

Julie shares her journey of letting go and finding peace throughout a hard season in her life.

When I was pregnant with my son Colton, doctors said he wouldn’t be born alive.  Having previously gone through a miscarriage and a cancer diagnosis earlier in the year, I wasn’t sure I could make it through another traumatic event.  I wanted to have faith, find peace, and release my burdens to God, but I didn’t know where to start.

One of the hardest things to do is to let go and give our burdens to God.  

I think it’s our need to want to control every little thing.  We want to micromanage our relationships, careers, and finances.  However, this often leads to anxiety, and stress when things don’t go exactly according to our plan.  

Finding Peace

Even though we KNOW that God shows up and miracles happen, finding peace can often be a journey. 

The Bible is full of miraculous acts: stories about the seas parting, a couple of loaves and fish feeding thousands, Jesus walking on water, water being turned into wine, and the dead rising in Christ BUT The Bible is also full of times when God worked differently.  Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers.  David committed adultery and learned the hard way. Job continued to praise God while suffering continued.  Esther chose faith over fear and saved a nation. Even Jesus prayed to God to spare his life before he was crucified, but the last words of his prayer:

“Nevertheless, not my will, but thine be done.”

Letting Go

I’ve learned that believing and holding on to that statement is the key to moving towards release and finding peace. Trust that your outcome is God’s plan for your life.  You can find peace knowing that God can see the bigger picture.  

Here are some tips that helped me release my burdens to God, during my traumatic pregnancy with my now 8-year-old son: 

1. Pray for Peace- Turning to prayer in times of struggle can provide the wisdom we need to give our “hard” to God. 

 “’I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.’” John 16:33 (NIV)

2. Pray for grace.  Grace is needed to accept the outcome God has prepared for your life, especially if your outcome isn’t what your heart desires.

“Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.” 2 Peter 1:2 (NIV)

3. Make a “letting go” list- simply write out a list of possible outcomes not within your power to change. As you write and re-read your list, visualize giving each burden to God. 

“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:7 (NIV)

4. Practice gratitude– I love my gratitude journal.  Every day I write down 3 blessings (big or small).  Being mindful about all that you do have will increase your contentment in the storm.

“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NIV)

5. Believe that God will use your hardship for something you haven’t seen yet.

“’For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you, and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’” Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)

God Uses Our Hardships for Good

Though the reasons behind our circumstances may be unclear in the moment, we can find peace in knowing that we are handing over our burdens to God, knowing that His vision for our life is greater than anything we ever imagine.

Losing a baby was HARD, and being diagnosed with cancer as a newlywed was HARD.  And after all of that receiving the news that my 2^nd baby wasn’t going to survive was HARD.

Please know that God can use everything we go through for a greater purpose. 

I never imagined my first miscarriage would result in doctors diagnosing me with thyroid cancer or that because my cancer was caught so early; I was given an excellent treatment plan with little to no further future complications.   I never imagined I would get pregnant with Colton so quickly after beating cancer or that God would put me through a hard second pregnancy and then bless me with a healthy baby.  There is no denying that our hard stuff is HARD stuff. But finding the strength to release our hard things to God can lead to the most unimaginable JOY.  God’s plan for our lives is greater than anything we could ever orchestrate without Him.

Meet Julie

Julie is a Law & Order: Special Victims Unit junkie; literacy advocate, spouse to a retired Air Force airman, and mama who is simply making it through the day by the grace of caffeine and Jesus. 

She has a degree in broadcast journalism and criminal justice from the University of Maryland in College Park. She went on to work in television, specializing in crime TV and then advanced to investigations for the federal government. Her favorite job has been being a mommy and is most recently known by her social media followers for her recurring pieces #conversationswithcolton.

Julie lives in Oklahoma with her husband and son.

Visit Julie at www.conversationswithcolton.com

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