The Power of Letting Go

“The Power of Letting Go”

Text: Luke 23:46

Introduction

Church, we have walked Jesus all the way to Calvary. We’ve seen Him betrayed… beaten… bruised… and nailed to a rugged cross.

We’ve heard Him speak forgiveness… promise paradise… care for His mother… cry out in abandonment… declare thirst… and announce that it is finished.

But now… we come to His final words— Not words of defeat… not words of despair… but words of release:

“Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit.”

This is not Jesus losing His life… This is Jesus letting it go.

And tonight, I came to preach to somebody: There is power in letting go.

Background

The Bible says that after crying with a loud voice, Jesus speaks directly to the Father.

Notice something— Earlier He said, “My God, My God…” But now He says, “Father…”

Relationship has been restored. The work has been completed. And now… Jesus is ready to release what He has been holding.

And here’s the key: No one took His life. He gave it.

The Bible reminds us in John 10:18: “No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself.”

Which means this moment is not weakness— It is authority in surrender.

Point 1: Letting Go Is Not Losing—It’s Trusting

Jesus says, “Father… into thy hands…”

He is placing His spirit into the safest place possible.

Can I tell you something? When you let go and put it in God’s hands, you are not losing control—you are placing it in better control.

We struggle to let go because we think we know better… We hold on because we fear what will happen if we release it…

But Jesus shows us that real faith is trusting God with what you cannot control.

Some of us are still holding onto:

Pain from yesterday

Fear about tomorrow

Situations we can’t fix

And God is saying: “Put it in My hands.”

Point 2: Letting Go Requires Surrender

The text says He commended His spirit—meaning He entrusted it, committed it, handed it over.

This was intentional.

Jesus didn’t die by accident— He died by surrender.

And here’s the tension: We shout over blessings… But we struggle with surrender.

Because surrender means:

Releasing your will

Letting go of your plans

Trusting God’s outcome over your own

But can I tell you? You cannot walk in God’s power while holding onto your own control.

At some point, you’ve got to say: “Lord, not my will… but Thine be done.”

Point 3: Letting Go Leads to Victory

Here’s the shouting part— When Jesus let go… it wasn’t the end… it was the setup.

Because three days later… That same Jesus got up with all power in His hands!

What looked like loss… was actually victory. What looked like release… was actually resurrection in motion.

And I need somebody to hear this: What you’re afraid to let go of might be the very thing God is trying to resurrect in a better way.

When you let go of bitterness… God gives you peace

When you let go of control… God gives you clarity

When you let go of fear… God gives you faith

There is power… in letting go!

Conclusion

Jesus teaches us something powerful in His final breath:

You don’t have to hold everything together— You just have to place it in the right hands.

Because the same hands that:

Formed the world

Held you together

Carried you this far

Are the same hands that can handle what you’re dealing with right now.

Let me close with a story, there was a baseball player……

Celebratory Close

And here’s why we can let go with confidence—

Because when Jesus said, “Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit,” He gave up His life…

They took Him down off that cross… Laid Him in a borrowed tomb… Stayed there all night Friday… all day Saturday…

But early—early—early Sunday morning…

He got up!

With all power in His hands!

And because He got up… You can let go and know that God will still bring victory!

So I dare you to throw your head back and declare:

“Lord, I’m putting it in Your hands!” “Lord, I’m letting it go!” “Lord, I trust You!”

Because there is power… In letting go!