When You Need To Let It Go

I’m currently in the midst of two situations:

One where I’m ready to move on and leave the former things behind me. The circumstances are too unhealthy and no longer sustainable.

Another where I have no choice but to give up my desires and my ways. The outcome is too far beyond my control, regardless of what I do or say.

At first, I couldn’t understand why God allowed both of these situations to play out simultaneously. I don’t want the drama, the overthinking, the fear, or the change. I just want the blessings and a season to rest. But what if God was allowing both of these circumstances to happen so I could truly find rest in Him? Maybe what I really needed wasn’t the comforts of my past. What if, instead, I needed to let it all go and solely place my trust in God?

The phrase “let it go” is broad, but so commonly used to calm one’s nerves. We might hear it when we don’t see the justice we want or we get angry over a conflict. We might associate it with disappointment when we don’t get the outcome we desire. This phrase has become increasingly popular after the Disney song by the same name, a worldwide anthem for leaving behind the past and making a way for the future. 

It’s easier said than done. You can easily let something go, only to pick it back up again. You can reshape your thought pattern, only for that memory to come back and haunt you. Sometimes we may even wonder “is it even possible?” Friend, it’s time to unclench your fist and let the balloon fly away. It’s time to put down that heavy package you’re carrying. It’s time to free up your hands so you can do the work of the Lord, no matter what that may look like.

You may relate to letting go of something familiar to embrace God’s call on your life. You may have to release something you love. Sometimes we cling to what’s comfortable when God is asking us to step out in faith. Like my current season of life, your situation might fall under one of those two categories:

1. Letting go of something unhealthy

This may be a difficult circumstance, a particular sin, or a toxic community. Maybe, for a time, things were fine, but now you look around and can’t recognize the path you once took. You can’t see how things ended up the way they are. 

When we leave behind something unhealthy, Scripture makes our direction clear: we are not to look back. We must dust the sand off our feet and move forward, just as Jesus commands and just as Paul and Barnabas did when faced with persecution (Matthew 10:14; Acts 13:51). What followed next was even greater. Because Paul and Barnabas remained obedient to the Lord, they “were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit” (Acts 13:52). It wasn’t just that the disciples moved forward. They didn’t retaliate. They didn’t hold onto bitterness or resentment. They shook the dust off their sandals – an act of entirely removing any remnants of the toxic territory – and kept walking. They trusted the Lord to sustain them. They trusted the Lord to handle the justice. And they moved forward in their calling, to preach the Good News of Jesus. 

Ask yourself: 

• Do I feel welcome in this environment? 
• Is my community building me up or tearing me down?  Are they bringing me closer to the Lord or causing me to create distance in my relationship with Him? 
• Is there a particular sin I need to give up?
• Is this circumstance driving a wedge between the Lord and me?
• Does this situation make me hold onto unforgiveness, bitterness, or resentment?
• Do I feel like I need to execute justice on my own?

We may not always think of walking away as trusting the Lord with that place or person. But when we remove ourselves from that situation, we’re not only setting boundaries to protect ourselves. We’re expecting the Lord to care for His people and His land, since we are no longer occupying that space.

2. Letting go of something beyond your control

This may not be something unhealthy in your life, but could be something good and desirable. Maybe it’s a relationship, a job, a home, or a ministry opportunity. It seems so reasonable, but it’s too far out of reach for you to fulfill on your own. And the more you try to gain control, the worse things tend to go.

Let this be your time to stop manipulating the situation. Stop trying to control every last detail. Start seeking the Lord and surrendering this desire to Him. Why labor in vain, striving to achieve this goal, when the Lord can accomplish it better and faster when He is the only One in control?

Scripture tells us that the best thing to do is not to strive, it’s to surrender. In Psalm 127:1, Solomon says “Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain” (ESV). In other words, if we try to achieve things on our own, it’s useless. We must allow the Lord to work through us if we want our projects and assignments to be valuable.

A common theme in the psalms, and throughout Scripture, is that when we cry out to God, He hears and answers us. In Psalm 34:4, David says “I sought the Lord, and he answered me, and delivered me from all my fears” (ESV). 

If we’re followers of Jesus, and we have entrusted our lives to Jesus, it’s time we start living fully under His authority. We placed our faith in Him for eternal life – what makes us think that He won’t do the miracle here and now? This thing may be beyond your control for a reason. Rather than the world seeing your accomplishment and passing it off as average, God has gifted you this opportunity, so that the world can see His glory when the miracle comes to pass.

Regardless of which category you relate to the most, both situations require you to release something. Whether it’s an unhealthy relationship, a toxic behavior, a dream you have, or an unmet longing, it’s not yours to hold onto anymore. As you step into what’s next, remember:

• God will execute justice because He is just (Isaiah 30:18).
• God will work everything together for good (Romans 8:28).
• Every promise He made is true, and through all things, they are true for you (Psalm 145:13).
• When you feel weak, ask God to strengthen you. He will (2 Corinthians 12:9-10). 
• God will equip you with what you need to keep moving forward (Philippians 4:19). When you’re tempted to retaliate, sin, or take control, trust that He will bring forth justice.

When you let things go, you’re doing what’s healthiest for you. You’re releasing your burdens and choosing to cast them on God, who cares for you. In effect, you’re freeing yourself up to do the work of the Lord. Sometimes we may end up surrendering the same thing to God every time we take a breath. As long as we keep control out of our hands and in His, it’s worth it.

In this surrender, you’ll see that the phrase “let go and let God” isn’t an excuse to do nothing. It’s about seeking God in the waiting. It’s about praising Him while He does the work. God is sovereign over all things; He holds all things together (Colossians 1:17).  Only He is in control. No matter how much we fight for power or control, He is King. He is Ruler over all. And we can rest assured that, when we let things go, He will take care of them. So today, as we lay down what was, we can move forward with confidence that what’s ahead is what’s best.