“Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.” Hebrews 10:23

We hear a great deal about letting go—let go of the past; let go of disappointment; let go of relationships that no longer serve us; or let go of what we cannot control. Sometimes, letting go is exactly what we need to do. There are seasons when holding on keeps us tied to something God is asking us to release; however, there are also times when we let go too quickly—not because the season is over, but because the journey has become difficult. That is where discernment becomes important. Everything difficult is not meant to be abandoned. Sometimes the resistance we feel is not a sign that we should stop– it could possibly be an invitation to strengthen our faith, adjust our approach, and keep going.

In 2009, twelve-year-old Bahia Bakari was traveling with her mother aboard Yemenia Airways Flight 626 when the airplane crashed into the Indian Ocean near the Comoros Islands. Of the 153 people aboard, Bahia was the only survivor. She had very little swimming experience and did not have a life jacket. She was injured, surrounded by darkness, rough water, and wreckage, and the bitter taste of jet fuel filled her mouth; yet Bahia found a piece of debris and held on. For hours, she remained in the ocean, clinging to a piece of wreckage. She could not see what was ahead of her. She did not know when or even whether help would arrive. She only knew that the small piece of wreckage beneath her was helping her stay alive; therefore, she held on.

I can only imagine how tired her arms must have become. I imagine there were moments when the waves made holding on seem almost impossible. Her strength was limited, her surroundings were frightening, and rescue was nowhere in sight. Bahia did not need enough strength for the entire night all at once; she only needed enough strength for the next moment, the next wave, and the next breath. Sometimes that is how perseverance works. We may not have the strength to see a dream all the way through. We may not know how we will recover from a disappointment, rebuild after a loss, grow a business, repair a relationship, or navigate an unfamiliar season. The entire journey may feel too overwhelming when we look at it all at once. Perhaps, we do not need strength for the entire journey today; we only need enough grace for the step that is in front of us.

There have been times in my own life when letting go would have been easier. After disappointment, rejection, betrayal, divorce, and unexpected transitions, I have learned that holding on does not always look strong. Sometimes it looks like getting out of bed and trying again. Sometimes it means continuing to pray when nothing appears to be changing. Sometimes it means making one more telephone call, revising the plan, asking for help, or simply refusing to allow a difficult season to become the final chapter of the story. Holding on does not mean pretending that we are not tired. It does not mean ignoring wisdom, remaining in harmful situations, or refusing to accept when God has closed a door. There is a difference between perseverance and refusing to release what has already ended. The question is not simply, “Is this difficult?” The better questions may be: “Is this still aligned with my purpose?” “Has God released me from this, or am I simply discouraged?”  “Am I holding on because of fear, or because I still believe there is work for me to do?” “Do I need to let go of the vision, or do I need to let go of the way I thought it would happen?” That last question is especially important. Sometimes we are not being asked to abandon the destination. We are being asked to release our preferred route.

Bahia could not hold on to the airplane as she had known it. That was gone, but she found what was still available—a piece of wreckage and used it to survive. What looked broken and insignificant became the very thing that kept her afloat. Life can be that way. The plan may fall apart, but God can still use a piece of what remains. A lesson, a relationship, a skill, a prayer, or even the wisdom gained through disappointment may become something we can hold onto while He leads us toward what comes next.

Eventually, rescuers found Bahia and brought her to safety. She could not see them during those long hours in the darkness, but help was making its way toward her. Her responsibility was not to know exactly when rescuers would arrive; her responsibility was to keep holding on until it did. Perhaps someone reading this is in a season that feels like deep water. You have been holding on, but you are tired. You have prayed, worked, waited, and wondered whether your efforts still matter. Before you release what is in your hands, pause and seek clarity. Rest if you need to rest; ask for help; reevaluate the plan and make the necessary adjustments. Do not make a permanent decision based solely on a temporary season of exhaustion.

You may not be able to see what is coming toward you, but that does not mean nothing is on the way. Take the next breath; face the next wave; and trust God for the strength needed for this moment. Sometimes letting go brings freedom and sometimes holding on preserves the life, purpose, and promise that are still unfolding. If you know in your spirit that the story is not over, hold on.