Letting Go of the Little Bear: Opening the Door to God’s Bigger Plan

There’s a picture I saw once that captures our relationship with God so well. It’s of a little girl holding a small teddy bear tightly behind her back. She’s saying, “This is mine,” because she treasures that little bear more than anything. But just in front of her stands Jesus, holding a much larger teddy bear, one she can’t see, waiting patiently. He’s saying, “Can you give me your bear? I have something even better for you.” Yet, the little girl clings to what she knows, not realizing what she’s missing.

This image speaks to something many of us experience. We often hold on so tightly to what we have—our version of happiness, our plans, our comforts. We’re like that little girl, satisfied with our small bears, while God stands ready with something greater, something beyond what we could imagine. But sometimes, the reason we can’t experience that “something greater” is simple: we have to open our hearts and trust His way over ours.

In today’s world, life can feel messy, especially when things don’t go as we plan. Maybe school is tough, friendships are complicated, or family life is challenging. But these difficulties don’t mean God isn’t working; they may mean He’s waiting for us to let Him in—to open that door to His plan, even if it feels hard or uncomfortable.

When I was younger, I struggled with this myself. I would pray and ask God why things couldn’t just be easier or go according to my plan. But, over time, God gently reminded me, “Are you willing to be comfortable being uncomfortable?” Letting go of my “bear” was uncomfortable, but it opened me to a joy and purpose I couldn’t have imagined on my own.

So here’s my simple takeaway: Just like that little girl in the picture, we might not always see what God has for us. But if we can trust Him enough to let go and open the door, we’ll find something bigger and better than we could ever hold onto ourselves. Today, take a moment to let go of that “small bear” and let God in. You might just find the bigger blessing He’s been holding for you all along.