"Let Go" by Grey Holiday from The Glorious Revolution is one of my favorite songs and is inspired by Isaiah 43 where Scripture says: "Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland." (Isaiah 43:18-19 NIV).

I think many Christians including myself struggle with this very issue of holding onto our dreams and expectations and not letting God show us what He wants for us. Laura Sproull from jesusfreakhideout perfectly captures the theme of "Let Go" being the "tendency we have as Christians to clutch all of our hopes and dreams" ("I've been holding on to things like dreams that never seem to die"), "and how we need to just let go and let God" ("What I need is faith"). Laura was very kind to give me permission to quote her. Please enjoy the rest of her excellent review here.

My conviction based on this passage and song is to stop and listen to God and find out what He is asking me to "let go." Growing up, I expected to find success in worldly pursuits and thought happiness and joy could be won in the game of life. Since I've come to be a follower of Jesus, I now have a better understanding that success for Christians is defined differently and requires "a break from all my vanity." Here's another way to read that same passage:
Isaiah 43:18-19 (The Message)

"Forget about what's happened; don't keep going over old history. Be alert, be present. I'm about to do something brand-new. It's bursting out! Don't you see it? There it is! I'm making a road through the desert, rivers in the badlands."

Here's what Matt and Josh from Grey Holiday have to say about the song:

"'Let Go' spawned directly from a struggle I was having with songwriting. I desperately wanted to keep my music the way I wanted it. I was willing to ignore God's inspiration if it meant I had control. So, Jason Ingram (producer and co-writer of The Glorious Revolution) and I were talking this through and the song 'Let Go' was born from our conversation. I realized that I would never be able to follow God's path if I continued to hold so tightly to my selfish desires. Every once in a while, songs can become therapy—this is one of them. It's just about coming back to the Father after straying and our ultimate place is to be back with the Father."—Matt Minor. "Let Go" is a timely reminder that following Jesus is never easy, especially when it's so easy to hold onto baggage of the past. "There is a common struggle we all seem to share," Josh says. "We often hold on so tightly to our selfish desires and worldly pursuits that we miss out on what God has to offer—a life filled with joy and freedom. We're the first to admit that we aren't perfect, but we are doing everything we can to live like Jesus wants us to. But it's a journey."

Lyrics to "Let Go"

I've been holding on
To things like dreams that never seem to die
And I'm not so strong to lay them down
And say my goodbyes
How do you say goodbye?

If there's a remedy
A break from all my vanity
Then I'm gonna need Your help
If there is hope for me
Pull me down to my knees
Where I'm begging for Your help
To let go

It's so unnatural
To let all that I've planned just slip away
But I would be a fool
To tighten up my hands and be afraid
What I need is faith

I'm walking right up to the edge
I'm bringing everything that's left of me
I throw myself into Your love
You'll be the One to lift me up again
As I let go

I can't help but pray and sing along with that last verse with all of my heart, mind and soul about "bringing everything that's left of me and I throw myself into Your love, You'll be the One to lift me up again, as I let go." You can't go wrong with that advice. All we need is faith and God will show us what He has planned for us. He's the author of our lives and knows what's best for us, much better than we do. Please join me and "Let Go."

God Bless!