Let Go and Trust God: Focus on What You Can Do

Feeling overwhelmed by life’s chaos? In this episode of The Dose, Dayle Kinney shares practical insights and inspiring biblical truths to help you focus on what you can control while letting go of the rest. Discover how small, intentional actions—like showing kindness, finishing a task, or choosing grace—can bring peace and joy to your day.

Dayle reflects on personal experiences (like life with six kids!) and explains how trusting God’s timing and learning to rest can transform the way you approach challenges. If you’re ready to stop carrying unnecessary burdens and start enjoying the life God has for you, this episode is for you.

Tune in for encouragement, wisdom, and the motivation to take on today with fresh hope and purpose.

Transcript

Do what you can and trust God with the rest.

That’s what I’ve been thinking about this week: focus on what’s in our hands.

What’s in your hands today? What can you do now?

It’s easy to get caught up trying to control everything. Trust me—I’ve got six kids and a husband, and I often say, “If you just do what I tell you, everything would be alright.” They just roll their eyes at me and say, “Yeah, whatever, Mum.”

But the truth is, we can’t control everything. What we can do is focus on the things that are in our hands, the things that are truly within our control, and what God says we’re responsible for: our attitudes, our actions, and how we respond to life’s challenges.

We can’t control everything or everyone else, but we can be responsible for how we respond to life.

When we choose to focus on what we can handle, we unlock that deep sense of peace and happiness that comes from knowing that we’re doing our best and have done what God asked of us—not everybody else, just us.

So, focus on what’s in your hands and what you can do. Think about this: what can you do today? Take a moment and ask yourself, “What’s one thing I can do today?”

It might be something simple, like finishing a task, showing kindness, or choosing to respond with grace to someone or a situation.

These small actions will add up. When you focus on them, you’ll stop wasting your energy on things that are out of your control, and you’ll get to live in the present and enjoy the process of doing what’s possible right now.

What can you do today? What’s in your hands?

Then let go and trust the process.

You know that song from Frozen, Let It Go? It’s actually a really apt song for life because here’s the key: do what you can and leave the rest in God’s hands.

Trying to control every aspect of our life only leads to stress, anxiety, and exhaustion. And, to be honest, it makes us grumpy.

When we release what we can’t control and leave it in God’s very capable hands, He’ll just take it off our shoulders. He’s the one who works everything out; He’s the one who holds it all together. But He can only do that when we release it into His loving care.

He is at work in the things we can’t see. He’s always at work in the background. We might think nothing’s happening, but it is.

Think about a seed when you plant it. It’s down there in the dirt, in the dark, and you wonder if anything is ever happening. But it’s made to produce; it’s made to germinate, sprout, and bear fruit.

It’s the same with our lives. Sometimes it’s in the background, in the dark places, where we can’t see the seeds God’s planted. But it’s in those hidden places that God is working. He brings light in His perfect time, making everything work out.

You can trust Him—trust that He’s working in the background. You can say, “God, this is what You’ve asked me to do today. This is what’s in my hands. This is what I can do.”

And then trust Him with the rest.

We’re free to enjoy our day without carrying unnecessary burdens or responsibilities that He never designed or purposed us to bear.

So let go and trust the process.

If He’s planted it in your heart, if He’s called you to it, He will work all things together for your good.

And then rest where you need to.

It’s okay to take breaks and rest along the way in life’s journey. You don’t need to do everything in one day or get it all perfect. God knows exactly where you’re at, and He’s giving you grace for today, for this part of your journey, for this season.

Learn to rest when you need it. Trust in His timing, and know that what’s beyond your reach is in His very capable hands.

In today’s fast-paced world, where everything feels hurried and chaotic—like being on a never-ending treadmill—it can be hard to discipline ourselves to rest.

But God made the Sabbath for a reason. It’s to teach us to rest, to take a break, to prosper our souls, to do things that energize and replenish us.

Without rest, we can sprint for a short while, but it’s the marathon—the long haul, the faithfulness, and the consistency—that produces the greatest fruit and rewards in life.

So rest where you need to, and discipline yourself to do that. It’s so important to living life well in the long run.

Then go and enjoy your day.

By focusing on what you can control and trusting God with all the rest, you free yourself to fully enjoy the day He’s given you.

You no longer have to carry the weight of the world on your shoulders. Instead, you’re partnering with God—doing your part and leaving the rest to Him. That’s where true contentment is found.

So when you look at your life, think about it like this: You’re partnering with God to do your part and let Him do His.

Don’t carry things He never intended for you to carry.

Jesus said His yoke is light and easy. It’s not just a weight-loss slogan; it’s about surrender. He carries the heavy load. He never intended for us to drag through life, merely existing. He wants us to run our race well, with joy, and to finish smiling.

Do what He’s asked you to do. Partner with Him. Do your part.

What’s in your hand? What can you do?

Learn to rest. Trust the process. Leave the rest to Him.

That’s where you’ll find peace and rest for your soul.

Colossians 3:23 says, “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.”

And Philippians 4:6-7 says, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

It doesn’t mean there won’t be trials, but even in the storm, we can have peace.

Jesus was asleep in the boat while the disciples were panicking. He invites us to come to Him and find peace, even in the storm.

So today, focus on what’s in your hands. What can you do?

Finish a task, show kindness, forgive, or choose grace.

Do the little things to keep moving forward. Then let go of the rest and trust God to take care of it.

Rest when you need to, and go enjoy your day. It’s a beautiful one.