Released Into the Wild: Why God Lets Go

I’ve been sitting in the book of Jeremiah lately, and between the pages of judgment and weeping, there’s a resounding truth I can’t shake: God will let you go—not because He doesn’t love you, but because sometimes, the wilderness is where purification begins.

I was reminded of a sermon by Pastor Phillip Anthony Mitchell where he talked about releasing people into the hands of the enemy—not out of cruelty, but out of mercy. So that they may feel the weight of distance from God, the void of glory, the silence of heaven... and maybe, just maybe, come running home.

And people always ask, “Why would God allow this? Why would He let things get so bad?”But the better question is, why do we keep choosing a life apart from Him?

We Want God’s Hand, But Not His Heart

We beg for blessings while living in rebellion. We ask for mercy while refusing to change. We want the promises of God without the posture of surrender.

In Jeremiah, we see a pattern over and over:

“But they did not listen or pay attention; instead, they followed the stubborn inclinations of their evil hearts.” — Jeremiah 7:24

And eventually, God says enough. Not because He’s angry in the way we are—but because He’s just. Because He’s holy. Because he’s done all He can while honoring our free will.

The Wilderness as Mercy

Sometimes, the most loving thing God can do is let go. Let you feel the hollowness of chasing your own will. Let you taste what life is like without His covering. Let you suffer the consequences of sin—not to destroy you, but to save you.

“Hand this man over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord.” — 1 Corinthians 5:5

This isn’t wrath without reason. It’s pruning. It’s purification. It’s the process of pain with the purpose of return.

The Real Problem? Us.

We want to point fingers at God and ask why the world is broken. But the truth is... we broke it. We choose selfishness. We abandon love. We idolize everything but God. We forget that His commands aren’t just rules—they’re a form of protection. And when we discard that protection, we end up in the fire.

And yet… even in the fire, He waits. Even in the wilderness, He whispers. Even when we’ve been released, He remains ready to redeem.

100% Accountability, 100% Grace

This isn’t about perfection. It’s about ownership. It’s about not blaming God for the chaos we created. It’s about looking in the mirror and asking:

• What part of me keeps choosing the wilderness?

• Why do I want His glory but not His guidance?

• Am I pouring into Him as I expect Him to pour into me?

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We can’t keep expecting holy outcomes from unholy choices.

Conclusion: The Return is Always Possible

Being released into the wild may hurt. But for many of us, it’s the very place we realize we can’t survive without God. And that’s the point.

The wilderness doesn’t have to be forever. But it may be the only way back to the Father’s arms.