I believe that every single one of us lives life with a specific formula:

If __________________ happens, I am going to be okay.

If I get the role I want at the company, I’m going to be okay.

If my kids get into the school I want (high school, university, or even preschool here), they’re going to be okay…which means I will be okay.

If I have enough in my bank account now or retirement account in the future, I will be okay.

If I do everything I’m told to take care of my mind and my body, I am going to be okay.

And life becomes something we seek to control as a way of guaranteeing favorable outcomes for ourselves. Everything gets treated as a cause-and-effect relationship. “Do this and you will get that.” And it works – for a while. But eventually, every human being experiences a failure of this formula. And it is so confusing and disorienting. We do the thing, but we don’t receive what it promised. And all of a sudden, we feel so helpless and out of control. If I can’t control the outcomes in my life, how can I know if I’m going to be okay? This is what I want to talk about today in a message I’m calling, “Releasing Outcomes”.

Mark 14:32-36 They went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” He took Peter, James and John along with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled. “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death,” he said to them. “Stay here and keep watch.” Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him. “Abba, Father,” he said, “everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.”

I believe Jesus models well what it looks like to practice releasing outcomes in our lives. Contrary to what some people think, he doesn’t only resign Himself to whatever is going to happen.

Jesus shares his burdens honestly with his inner circle. Notice that he doesn’t share this with everyone or even the majority of his disciples. But He does make sure he shares it with his inner circle. Jesus takes Peter, James and John along with him and tells them that his soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. The English translation is softer here than what Jesus actually meant. He actually expressed something more like horror and anguish that overwhelmed him. If Jesus needed an inner circle to bear his burdens, surely we need one as well.

Jesus addresses God as Abba. Jews would never use the term Abba for God because they thought it was disrespectful. This word was primarily used by little children within the family circle. But by Jesus using this word, he is affirming the intimate relationship he has with God as Father. And elsewhere, Jesus encourages us to address God in the same way. Jesus did not allow his current circumstances to determine his distance from the father.

Jesus demonstrates belief that God is able to do the impossible. He’s essentially saying, “I know you can do ANYTHING.” Part of releasing outcomes is about whether or not you believe God has all power and authority. And whether or not He cares for you.

Jesus expresses His desires to God. “Take this cup from me.” I think so many of us skip this step. Somewhere along the way, we’ve come to believe that it’s bad to ask God for what we want. But there are so many places in the gospels where we see Jesus ask people questions like the time a blind beggar got the attention of Jesus:

Luke 18:41 “What do you want me to do for you?” “Lord, I want to see,” he replied.

May we anticipate this question from Jesus and be ready to answer it. Do you know what you want? If so, are you expressing that desire to God? But of course, we can’t stop merely at expressing our desire. Jesus didn’t stop there either. “Yet not what I will, but what you will.” After Jesus expressed his desires to the Father, He also surrendered those desires to the Father.

The Practice of Releasing Outcomes

• Share your burdens and hopes honestly with your inner circle.

• Do not allow your current circumstances to determine your distance from God.

• Have faith that God is able to do the impossible.

• Express your desires to God.

• Surrender your desires to God.

If we choose not to release outcomes to God, what other options do we have? We can make our grip even tighter on what we’re trying to control. We can worry and weigh ourselves down with anxiety. Or we can absolutely freak out. As you think about Jesus releasing outcomes to God in the Garden of Gethsemane, let me show you how someone else responded to this kind of moment. This is the moment where Judas leads a detachment of soldiers and some religious officials to where Jesus is. Remember at a moment like this, you can release outcomes or you can take outcomes into your own hands.

John 18:10-11 Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant, cutting off his right ear. (The servant’s name was Malchus.) Jesus commanded Peter, “Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?”

Peter cared about Jesus and that’s a good thing. But Peter also had a habit of trying to control outcomes, even when it meant telling Jesus “no” or denying that he even knew Jesus or cutting off someone’s ear with a sword.

Does Peter ever learn how to release outcomes? Does he ever find a way out of taking control or learning how to quiet his anxiety about his uncertain future? Have I got really good news for you! The text of Scripture I’m going to show you has become such a gift to me when it comes to knowing how to properly release outcomes.

1 Peter 5:5-7 In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility towards one another, because, “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

Does that sound like the Peter who denied Jesus, tried to control Jesus, and cut off someone’s ear with a sword? If Peter can be transformed through this practice, so can I and so can you. Peter has been deeply transformed by coming to know that his whole life and entire future can be entrusted into the loving hands of his heavenly Father. He’s no longer trying to grip everything in life as though his hand is the mighty hand. Nope. He’s coming under the mighty hand of God, believing that’s the safest place for him and everyone else.

“Humility is a great secret of rest of soul because it does not presume to secure outcomes.” -Dallas Willard, Renovation of the Heart

At the same time, Peter’s not letting go and just letting whatever happens happen. No. He’s releasing outcomes into the mighty hand of God. He’s no longer casting his anxiety on other people, but on the God who cares so deeply for him. This is what he’s inviting us to do as well. We began with a framework most of us live by and Peter used to live by this same one:

If __________________ happens, I am going to be okay.

But Peter eventually learns that the formula Jesus used is the one that’s best for him and best for us.

If I have God as my heavenly Father, I am going to be okay.

Are there any people, things, or situations you are trying to control right now in your life? What could it look like to tell Jesus what you want, tell your inner circle what you want, and then surrender what you want?

Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways, submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.

Our Part – Trust. Submit to God. Obey.

God’s Part – Secure outcomes. Make our paths straight.

“Jesus invites us into a way of living where we are genuinely comfortable turning things over to him.” -John Eldredge, Get Your Life Back

Eldredge goes on to give us a model for how we pray into this.

Jesus, I give everything and everyone to you.

You can practice this each day in your real life. Jesus, I give you this meeting I’m anxious about. I give you the lack of friends my child has. I give our financial concern. I give you the future of my current job. I give you this doctor’s appointment. I give you this conflict. Eldredge says this helps your soul become unburdened, which I think Jesus promised us.

Matthew 11:28-30 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Release it to Jesus. Cast your anxiety on Jesus.

Faith in Jesus.

Release (physically grip your fist and release) “Jesus, I give ___________ to you.”

Jesus, since I’m entrusting you with my entire eternity, it makes sense for me to entrust this situation to you as well.