My dentist had me pinned in the chair, mouth propped open, when he delivered the line that would name a book I eventually wrote, “You’ll never let go of the ring, Frodo. They never do.”
Ken was right to be skeptical. I was leaving a church of 2,000 people—during a time when the Associated Press was writing about us, when TV networks wanted interviews. We were enjoying our 15 minutes of fame, and I was walking away from it all to plant a church in Hawaii with no guaranteed salary and no meeting place.
The “ring” Ken referenced comes from Tolkien’s trilogy. Frodo possessed a ring offering control over the whole world. Keep it, and you rule—with all the corruption that brings. Destroy it, and you restore peace but lose extraordinary power.
Here’s what I’ve learned: God often disrupts the things we cling to for security. Christianity works best in the tension of letting go so we can receive—of seeking to lose a life so we can find it.
Think about Abraham. God said, “Leave your father’s house and go to a land I’ll show you.” No map. No description. No introduction to the people. Just “Go.” Abraham had to let go of wealth, political power, and everything familiar.
The pattern repeats through Scripture. Moses forsook Egypt’s riches. Daniel risked success by sticking to kosher food. Matthew walked away from his tax collector’s desk when Jesus simply said, “Follow me.” No job description. No promise of apostleship. Just “Follow me.”
Your ring probably doesn’t look like mine. Maybe it’s a ministry style that worked for years but no longer connects with your community. Maybe it’s a building you love but can no longer afford. Maybe it’s a vision that requires letting go of people you’ve discipled so they can plant elsewhere.
The hard truth? Letting go hurts. When we finally moved to Hawaii, I battled depression for months. Everything I loved about California, the friends, the weather, the familiar surf spots. It all seemed to mock the decision. I wanted to run back.
But here’s the other side: Every time I’ve been forced to release control, God’s done something bigger than I could have imagined. That first church I almost didn’t plant? It grew and multiplied into a movement that now includes 2,600+ churches across six continents. All because a frightened young pastor released his grip on security.
You can’t grab God’s best while your hands are full of your own plans.
The narrow path isn’t mainly about good deeds—it’s about trusting the God who walks beside you even when you can’t see what’s ahead.
Three Questions for Your Next Staff Meeting:
- What are we clinging to that God might be asking us to release?
- Where have we confused our comfort with God’s calling?
- What would we attempt if we knew we couldn’t fail?
Practice This:
This week, identify one thing you’re holding too tightly—a program, a plan, a person, a position. Write it down. Pray over it daily. Ask God if this is something you need to surrender. Then have the courage to open your hands.
Remember: You can’t lose your life by seeking to do so for His sake. You only lose by trying to cling to it.
Note: I dive deeper into these ideas in my book “Let Go of the Ring”
Ralph Moore is the Founding Pastor of three churches which grew into the Hope Chapel ‘movement’ now numbering more than 2,300 churches, worldwide. These are the offspring of the 70+ congregations launched from Ralph’s hands-on disciplemaking efforts.
He travels the globe, teaching church multiplication to pastors in startup movements. He’s authored several books, including Let Go Of the Ring: The Hope Chapel Story, Making Disciples, How to Multiply Your Church, Starting a New Church, and Defeating Anxiety.
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