Many times, we heard the statement, “Let Go and Let God.” Something that I have learned in a hard way. Why is it really letting go of something or someone is so hard to do? I had that season of questioning, too. I came to a point life where I had to re-evaluate my life – where it was going and what were the things that mattered most in my life. And honestly, I had to deal with and face those things that scared me. You know, when we let go, we are scared. Scared that things before will be changed. It won’t be the same anymore. That thing or someone we treasured so much would be gone. We grieve and mourn for that thing that we feel is our loss. When our emotions are too strong, even the Word of God will lose its value and effect.
Letting go and trusting God don’t come easy. We have to go through valleys of pain and heartaches in order to prove that God is real in our lives. Psalm 23:4, “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.” How did David have that strong conviction about God’s protection and deliverance? We know the life of David, don’t we? But though all of those unpleasant circumstances around him, he learned to trust God and let Him control everything. Oh, but that’s David. You might say. Yet, that instance was written for us to let us know that we can be like David, given that we do the same thing as what he did. To build our lives around God and let Him Lord over us. Was David free from pain and hurt? I believe you know the answer. He was full of it. He was not loved well by his family. He was betrayed. He lost his sone. He sinned gratefully. Yet, in the end, we came out victoriously as what God promised to those who endured with Him until the end.
What can I say then? I will be sharing with you some practical steps that I do when I struggle to let go of something. Many times, it is not people that I have a hard time letting go. They are my things that I often let in my life and eventually, causing my hurt. However, for some, it might be people – our loved ones, friends, lover, and many more. Still, it will be the same lesson that we have to learn.
1. Pray intentionally.
What else can be better than communicating with God during this process of hurtful letting go? God said that He is near to the broken heart (Psalm 34:18), heals their broken heart and binds their wounds (Psalm 147:3).
“Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:16
“Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7
These things are not written for us to just read, but for us to do and experience.
2. Go through the process of letting go.
Be rational and objective. It’s different from denial. Denial is when you suppress what ever you feel and experience, pretending to be okay when you are not. Being rational and objective means going through pain and even hurtful episodes of moving on. However, we become rational by processing it according to what is the right thing to do.
That’s why like reading the book of Psalms. It reminds me that I am a human – prone to all kinds of emotions. And, there is nothing wrong with feeling those emotions. David, for example is very transparent of his emotions. He felt sad, angry, depressed, guilty, repentant, joyful, etc. But during those unpleasant feelings, he still acknowledged God through all of those.
The process of letting go is not a one-time deal. It’s a lifelong battle that we have to face with God, I believe. For example, when we loss a love one, that’s forever, And, we cannot be the same again. Yet, the time comes when we will be able to accept it and we learn to move forward and press on. I experienced losing a loved one. It’s been almost two decades. Still, I remember him and there are times that I miss him and I ask, “What if you live, what would you become now?” No matter how we feel, still life must go on. So, feeling these things are not normal. What’s unusual is that we will be stuck somewhere, not able to keep on in life. In that sense, we lose the precious gift of life that God has given us. It’s okay to grieve, to mourn, but while we are grieving, we have to take steps forward. That point might not be forgotten anymore, but whenever we look back, we see that no matter how hard it is, we are able to take courageous steps forward. That point becomes a memory in our hearts.
There is a time for everything – a time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away (Ecclesiastes 3:6).
3. Look forward to the amazing plan of God.
Though there are times that we think we cannot move forward without that thing or someone, if we let God heal us, time will come, we will. I saw that from my mother when our brother died. It took her a while to forget. But by the grace of God, she did.
When God asks as to let go of someone or something, He has a different plan. Our end point is not now, but our final destination is where God tells us to stop our journey. That’s why while letting go, we have to look forward to the amazing plan of God in our lives. Too good to be true? But, yes. He will sustain us until we finally realize that life is not about what we want to do with our lives, but how can we glorify Him through the things that we experience. The best lesson that we can learn from letting go and letting God is that we have to hold things and people loosely. God is able to give and take away. If we hold things tightly and God takes it away, we will experience so much hurt as compared to holding them loosely. Still, we fell pain and hurt, but it’s lighter.
Whenever we struggle to trust God and believe His Word, let’s go back to these verses:
Jeremiah 29:11
“ For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.”
Romans 8:28.
“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” (Take note, this applies to those who love God. If you don’t this is not for you.)
Psalm 33:11
“The counsel of the Lord standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations.”
Surely, God’s Word will always be true.
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