Have you noticed when we grasp onto something we treasure with all our might, our knuckles turn white?

It happens metaphorically with any possession that defines us, relationship that completes us,

or dreams we've spent years building. But what happens

when God asks us to open our hands and let go? Today, on Insight for Living, Chuck Swindoll

takes us to one of Scripture's most gut-wrenching moments when a father faced the ultimate

test of faith on a lonely mountain.

Through Abraham's story, we'll discover why the Christian life requires us to hold everything

loosely.

We're thinking about great stories from the Old Testament in this series we are involved in

these days, and it seemed one that would be most appropriate for this hour is the story

of the father who released his son. And of course the analogy between this earthly father who did that and our

heavenly father who did that on the great Christmas morn in its origin is undeniable.

And you just can't see one without picturing the other.

Really, I think what the greater message in this story is all about is the importance of holding

all things loosely. Shortly before her death, Corey Ten Boom spent worship hours in our church in Fullerton.

It was always my privilege to see her in our congregation, so unassuming, quiet in her own way,

and uniquely worshipful. I always wrestled a bit with feelings of intimidation, having a woman of that stature and with her

vast experience, sitting of all things, and my teaching. On occasion, she would speak with me

quietly as the service had ended. And I will never forget one time when we got on the subject of our children.

And during the growing up years of our little ones, she often took delight in watching them as they

grew. And she said to me, knowing my love for my children and my wife, she said, you know, Pastor Chuck, she said,

I have learned in my years that we must always hold things loosely. She said, because the

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