We always desire that all things go as we want them to. We make plans for our future. We set goals and work on them. We try our very best to execute our ideas and make them concrete.
However, things are sometimes beyond our expectations. Problems eventually come our way. Frustrations and failures can, at times, discourage us from fulfilling our dreams and aspirations. Sickness and bodily ailments suddenly come to us. People and events deter our journey toward success and happiness.
These are the moments when we must confront ourselves: am I doing all these things according to my own desire? In doing so, we often forget to include God in all our endeavors. These prayers are intended to help us grow in trust and confidence in the Lord. As you whisper a prayer, let go and let God lead you to where He desires and wills.
Prayer for God to take control
Heavenly Father, God of all, I praise and adore You for all the things You have done for me. I thank You for the gift of life You have graciously given to me. May I continue to bring glory to Your Name as I tread the path You have prepared for me.
Lord God, You know my thoughts and desires. I have my plans for the future. I eagerly work hard to make these dreams a reality. Thank You for constantly providing me with the strength and courage to fulfill these dreams.
But Lord, no matter how I try hard and do my best, problems and challenges come. There are days that I feel stagnant. I feel like I have not done anything to take even a single step closer to my desires. I feel frustrated. I feel anxious. I am discouraged by the thought that I am still stuck where I am compared to what I am dreaming to be.
Lord, please calm my troubled mind. Ease my weary heart. I come to You to seek strength and trust in Your providence and love. Please help me to accept the things I have no control over. Help me let go of the things that impede my growth in love of You. Make me humble to let You have Your way in me and to let go of what is against Your plan for me.
Help me let go of anger and frustrations. When things seem to be out of control, please grant me serenity and calmness. When things begin to be out of my plans, help me see the light amidst the darkness.
Help me let go of the idea that I can do all things on my own. Please tear down the false image I made for myself – that my plans are the best for me, that my strength and skills are more than sufficient, and that I am better than anyone else.
Lord, grant me the grace to be humble to let go of pride. Help me let go of the “need” to control everything through my own efforts. Do not let me take Your place as God in my life. Reign in my life every single day. Do with me as You please. May I seek You and Your will, not mine, in all that I do and encounter.
Inspire me always to seek Your will and to trust You even more. May I walk in faith in You and not according to my own will. I trust in You and Your providential love. Through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
Short prayer for letting go
Loving and merciful Father, in You, I find peace and strength. Help me to trust in You even more. May I learn to let go of the things I have no control over. Reign in my life and lead me to where You want me to be. Help me become obedient to Your plans, for I know these are for my best. Through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Amen.
The Word of God
For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope.
Jeremiah 29:11 NRSVUE
Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you.
1 Peter 5:7 NRSVUE
Prayer to Saint Augustine of Hippo for letting go
Blessed Saint Augustine, brilliant saint and humble servant of God, I come to you to ask for your prayers and intercession. The grace of God has led you to a life of holiness and obedience. Your life is a reminder that we, too, can be transformed into holy men and women, all through the grace and compassion of God.
Dear Saint Augustine, you once lived a life apart from the Lord God. But you were not a hopeless case before Him. He was patient with you until finally, He found a way to enter your heart. And all you had to do was to let go of the former life you were living and follow the will of God.
Please listen to my supplications and pray to God on my behalf. I have a lot of things on my mind now. I have plans and dreams to fulfill. I have set goals for myself to achieve. I desire for my relationships to work out. But there are times when things are really tough for me to handle.
Saint Augustine, pray for me that, like you, I may let go of my selfish desires and false dreams. Help me see the things that really matter in life. Help me to embrace the will of God for me rather than pursuing my own aspirations. Pray for me that I may not substitute the rightful place of God in my life with temporary things. And one day, may I also say in full joy and fulfillment, “Our hearts are restless until they can find rest in You.”
Saint Augustine, pray for us. Amen.
Further reflection
Life is a journey. Let us imagine ourselves packing up things that we think are important on the trip. As we do this, we lose awareness that we are packing up a lot of things – most of which are not really necessary for the journey. In the end, we find ourselves tired of bringing these things with us. As a result, our journey is getting delayed and tiresome.
This is where letting go is needed. We have to let go of the things that prevent us from seeing our purpose in life. We must let go of the belief that we can do everything in our own way and in our own time. In the final analysis, it is God and will always be God who is in control of everything. And we must trust Him even more by letting go of the things we hold dear.
