What happens if it doesn’t happen? Sometimes we need to let it.

You know the scenario—either you or someone else says, “If I don’t do this, it won’t happen.” That may be true. If you don’t take the initiative, take ownership, take responsibility, the work may not get done, the hoped-for event may not happen, something won’t get taken care of.

Now, ask yourself this question— “What happens if it doesn’t happen?” If that means disaster, then you’ll have to step in and make sure nothing drops.

But what if it falls far short of the Apocalypse if that thing doesn’t happen? Better yet, what if it not happening produces a greater good as a result?

Or, what if we find out we’re wrong? What if someone else does the work? Years ago, my “adopted mom”, a very kind and capable, servant-hearted, woman, lamented to me about no one but her stepping up to spearhead the monthly church charity-lunches held on behalf of the community. Others were discovering that there is such a thing as a free lunch, at least for them, but not for her (or whoever paid for the food)!

I responded, “Maybe no one else is stepping up because they know you’ll always do it for them.” “Yes, but if I don’t do it, it won’t happen!”  That’s the common plight and slogan of get-it-done people everywhere, in every nation, tribe, organization, corporation, and family.

Maybe they’re right. Maybe you’re right if you’re this person—the only one taking ownership. In that case, let me suggest ways to get out of this perpetual scenario (once you’re sure the world and/or your job won’t end if it doesn’t get done):

Let people know you can’t do it. Tell them you don’t have the capacity, time, energy, resources, to be in charge. You can offer to help (if you’d like) and advise but not be responsible.

Ask for volunteers to take on that role, or if possible, assign someone. Delegate. If you hesitate to do this, ask yourself why. Are you afraid the job won’t get done right if you don’t do it? Not keeping our hands on something means giving up control. Giving up control requires trust in whoever we give responsibility (and therefore control) to. Yes, that can be scary. Especially if you’re used to being the one in charge.

But if we want relief, we have to trust someone else with the process and the product. Just ask Moses in the Bible. He was overwhelmed and overburdened with taking care of a million contentious Israelites. “If I don’t do it, it won’t happen!” Finally, his father-in-law Jethro talked sense into him and got him to trust some others with judging disputes and taking care of other matters. (See Exod. 18:13-26) That’s how we got our current court system in the U.S., which works much better than sending everything straight to the Supreme Court.

Ultimately, we have to trust the Lord Himself to make happen whatever needs to happen. We do this by:

1. Knowing Who He is—His character— All powerful, all good, holy, loving, etc. All of Scripture demonstrates and states this.

2. Remembering what He’s done—His track record. For example—

“Praise the LORD, my soul, and forget not all his benefits— who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.” Ps. 103:2-5

3. Remembering we’re not Him— when we feel like everything will drop and cease functioning without us, remind ourselves there’s only one Messiah needed in the universe, and He came over two thousand years ago!

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Is. 9:6

With all this in mind, don’t worry! Instead, anticipate these possible positive results:

1. Someone else will step up and you’ll be relieved of overwhelm and extra burden.

2. Whoever steps up will appreciate having the opportunity. As long as you were occupying that space of leadership/ownership/getting-it-done, others didn’t see any room for them. Now that space is free, and someone is glad to step in.

3. Maybe no one can or will do that work and you’ll be right, “it” won’t happen—but now you can ask yourself if it needed to! If no one cares enough to get it done, maybe it’s not so vital.

4. What if it really did need to happen? Everyone will discover that when it doesn’t, and it’s not your fault! Next time, someone else will make sure it does, because people won’t just depend on you. You did, after all, let them know. Lesson learned. As long as your not-doing didn’t cause the downfall of the company, the organization, the church, or your family, which is highly unlikely, that lesson is positive.

Don’t be afraid to find out what happens if you don’t make it happen! Sometimes, just as Jesus told Martha when she complained to him about having to “make it happen”, He tells us to choose “the better part” of sitting at His feet and leaving the “happen” in His and others’ hands—Lk. 10:38-42