The Death of Stephen Birthed Paul: Why God Sometimes Says Let Go
Stephen was a Steward in the early days church and a true preacher of the gospel of Christ(Acts 6:1-6), he was stone for preaching Christ but after his death, Saul — who later became Paul and was one of the chief people behind Stephen’s death — encountered Christ, and his ministry began. He went from nation to nation preaching the same Gospel of Christ which he once fought against (Acts 8:1, Acts 9:1-22).
He was beaten, stripped, hungry, stoned, imprisoned, and afflicted for this Gospel far more than Stephen suffered (2 Corinthians 11:23-27), yet he passed through them all with unfailing faith, without wavering, until he fulfilled his course (2 Timothy 4:7)
What is that thing you are holding dearly, and God is saying, “Let it go”?
It seems so important. You cannot imagine your life without that thing or that person, yet God is asking, “Can you let go now?”
Maybe the pain is too much that you cannot see yourself forgiving this person or relating with him/her . Are you still bleeding based on past events and memories? God is knocking in your heart with only one question can you let go?
There Are Reasons Why God Is Saying Let Go
1. God Has Something Greater Prepared for You “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” — Jeremiah 29:11
God is not asking you to let go because He is wicked or because He no longer cares about you. He is asking because He has greater things prepared for you — things bigger than what you are currently holding onto.
There is no way you can lay hold of what God has prepared for you while still tightly holding onto the past or pain. Sometimes letting go is for your own growth, healing, and betterment.
2. It Is for His Glory
While Stephen was being stoned, he looked up into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God (Acts 7:55-56).
The people were already angry at him while he preached the Gospel, and he knew the consequence could be death, but that did not stop him. Because of his faith and boldness in God, he continued preaching.
When he told them what he saw, the multitude rushed at him and stoned him to death. Yet with great faith he committed his spirit into the hands of God and prayed: “Lord, lay not this sin to their charge.” Acts 7:60
Immediately after, he gave up the ghost.
After Stephen’s death, persecution increased and the believers were scattered abroad, going everywhere preaching the Gospel (Acts 8:1-4). The Gospel spread heavily because one man laid down his life for Christ.
Sometimes God is saying let go so that His glory can be revealed through your obedience.
3. Sometimes God Is Saying Let Go for the Sake of Assignment
Maybe that thing you are holding onto was never written in your divine script.
Just like Saul in Acts 9:1-9, he collected letters from the high priest to go to Damascus and punish the disciples. Filled with passion and zeal for what he believed was right, he encountered Christ on the way.
Right there, he let go of that corrupt passion, his love for persecuting believers, and his identity as a Pharisee in order to follow Christ (Acts 9:18-20).
All that while, he was working passionately in ignorance.
After encountering Christ, he left everything, got baptized, and within days began boldly preaching the same Gospel he once persecuted people for believing. The people were amazed.
You do not know what you are capable of until you are willing to let go and realign yourself with God’s divine assignment for your life.
Some people are passionately pursuing what God never assigned to them.
4. God May Be Saying Let Go Because He Is No Longer in That Place
God works in seasons and dispensations. Sometimes God says let go because His present move no longer fits into the place, mindset, or thing you are still holding onto. He is calling you higher.
Many Christians make the mistake of clinging tightly to what God Himself has already left behind. They refuse growth, revelation, and movement.
That is why maintaining a daily relationship with God is important — so you can know what God is saying now, not just what He said yesterday.
The Israelites wanted to return to Egypt because slavery with garlic and food seemed better than trusting God in the wilderness (Numbers 11:4-6). But God was saying:
“Leave Egypt and go to the land I promised your fathers.”
That was His current move.
Imagine Abraham killing Isaac because he heard God say, “Sacrifice him,” but was no longer spiritually aligned enough to hear when God said “Lay not thine hand upon the lad.” — Genesis 22:12
God had already provided a ram for sacrifice.
If you stop listening halfway, you may destroy what God never intended you to lose permanently.
It is dangerous to move with old instructions when God has already spoken again.
God also said to Samuel “How long wilt thou mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel?” — 1 Samuel 16:1
Samuel was still mourning over Saul, but God had already moved on and chosen David.
It is a dangerous thing to hold onto what God has departed from.
5. God May Be Saying Let Go Because of Distractions
Sometimes the thing you are holding onto is slowly replacing God in your heart.
God can see when a thing, person, ambition, or desire is distracting you and weakening your intimacy with Him. So He demands that you let go in order to gain your full attention again.
“You shall have no other gods before Me.” — Exodus 20:3
“For I the Lord thy God am a jealous God.” — Exodus 20:5
God treasures relationship with you deeply. He does not want anything taking His place in your heart.
“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?” — Romans 8:35
Money should not. Relationships should not. Success should not. Ambition should not.
But many believers already know the answer to what is quietly taking their hearts away from God.
What is that thing you are holding onto so tightly that if God touches it, your heart shakes?
The Benefits of Letting Go When God Says You Should
1. It Keeps You in Right Standing with God
You are no longer guessing whether God is with you or not, because when God speaks and you obey, you walk in alignment with Him.
2. It Brings You Into Total Trust in God
If He says let go, then He is already prepared to lead you forward. Letting go teaches daily dependence and trust in divine leading (Proverbs 3:5-6).
3. It Opens You Up to God’s Blessings and Favor
Obedience to God's word and leading attracts divine favor.
“To obey is better than sacrifice.” 1 Samuel 15:22
4. It Brings You Into the Realm of God’s Glory and Help
Paul let go of his old life and embraced Christ. Though he was considered the least among the apostles (1 Corinthians 15:9-10), he labored greatly and God confirmed His word through signs and wonders.
Letting go opens a man up to dimensions of God’s glory he would never have entered otherwise.
5. It Brings Intimacy and Alignment With God
You stop living on past encounters and past instructions because your heart stays connected to God daily. You become sensitive to His present burden and what the Spirit is saying per season.
Finally brethren, it is a great honor to walk rightly with God, but you must be willing to die to anything, anywhere, or anyone God is demanding from you. It is sacrifice. And sometimes it is not easy.
But it takes a heart that truly desires the will of God to obey Him completely.
So my dear, what is that one thing the Holy Spirit has been whispering to you about?
I know it is hard, but remember: the death of that thing may birth a greater move of God in your life.
What are you waiting for?
Run to your Maker and surrender in love, because nothing should take you out of the love of God (Romans 8:38-39).
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