Have you ever felt weighed down by the hurts and wounds of the past? Many of us have experienced trauma, hurt, and abuse that can be difficult to let go of. However, releasing these burdens is essential for living healthier and happier lives. It also helps us make peace with the past and potentially reconnect with estranged loved ones.
My Journey of Letting Go
I have personal experience with letting go of trauma and past wounds. Although I won’t go into details, for many years, it seemed impossible to free myself from the burden of past harm and trauma. Carrying these weights seemed easier than giving them to God. However, the time came to let go and start the healing process. The Lord taught me how to surrender my past wounds to Him.
The journey was difficult—like peeling layers off an onion. It involved estrangement from a family member. Eventually, I healed and reconnected with my loved one, who had cut off our relationship. Without the Lord’s help, I wouldn’t have been able to reestablish this relationship.
Today’s post deals with how God can help us let go of the past. We'll take a look at the process, my personal experience, and how life can be when you're through the process.
The Process of Letting Go
When we hold on to past hurts and traumas, they become heavy burdens that make life miserable. They drag on our lives like a huge boulder chained to our legs. Walking through life becomes almost impossible as we hobble along, holding on to our past.
On the other hand, giving these burdens to the Lord means getting rid of the weight of our past and living a healthier, happier life in the present. The process involves several steps, including:
Forgiveness: forgive those who have hurt us and ourselves for past mistakes. Forgiveness is a conscious decision to relinquish resentment and hurt, even if we don’t receive an apology.
Healing emotional wounds: acknowledge the pain and allow yourself to grieve. Seek out God’s comfort and healing.
Releasing negative thoughts and feelings: consciously release feelings of bitterness, anger, regret, sadness, and revenge.
Trusting God’s plan: trust God’s plan, believing He can use our past experiences for good.
Living in the present: means focusing on the present moment and not allowing past experiences to dictate current actions or feelings.
Embracing change and growth: be open to new perspectives, experiences, and ways of thinking.
Not expecting reconciliation: understand that reconciliation requires a willingness to reconnect from both sides.
When hurts are deep, it’s impossible to do all of this work ourselves. That’s why we must depend on and lean into God. He can show us how to relinquish past pain and hurts to live a happier life now.
Bible’s Insights into Letting Go
The Bible offers some deep insights into the importance of letting do. For instance, in Philippians 3:13-14 NKJV, Paul writes, “Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead. I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” This passage encourages us to focus on our future with Christ rather than dwelling on the past.
Jesus also invites us to find rest in Him, saying, “Come to me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28 NKJV). By bringing our burdens to Jesus, we can find rest and peace, releasing the heavy load of our past hurts.
Transforming Our Relationship with the Past
Giving up the burden(s) is not about forgetting our past or pretending it never happened. It’s about transforming our relationship with the past, allowing God to heal our wounds and use our experiences to grow closer to Him and others. Through this process, we can find true freedom and peace.
Practical steps toward healing can include:
- Prayer and reflection: offer prayers of forgiveness and seek God’s guidance.
- Seek support: talk to a trusted friend or counselor.
- Immerse yourself in God’s Word: reflect on scriptures that speak to healing and forgiveness.
When you release the past into God’s hands, you no longer rehash the past. You’re open to the new things that come into your life. And you may be more open to reconciliation if that opportunity presents itself.
Is the Process Easy?
The answer is “No.” The process of relinquishing the past takes time, effort, prayer, tears, and more. You must enter into this process with a heart that’s set on God and doing whatever it takes to heal. It’s not for the faint of heart or spirit.
As I worked through letting go of the past, the Lord showed me many upsetting things about myself. Looking in a mirror is not one of my favorite activities on a good day. Think of this as looking in a mirror on a day when you know your hair is truly having a "bad hair day" and it's impossible to fix. The process is not pleasant and it gets worse before it gets better.
Letting go takes time and a willingness to deal with those unpleasant aspects of yourself. The guilt can be crushing; however, when you do this with the Lord, you will find forgiveness for yourself and the other person and gain a new understanding of how a healthier relationship works.
Over time, you also get a new lightness of being. You find yourself taking a new interest in life, trying new things, exploring new places, and much more. Though the process of letting go of the past is hard, the rewards are far more fulfilling than living with past trauma, hurts, and wounds.
Will you be ready to reconnect with your loved one? That depends on many factors. If you do the work, it’s not assured that the relationship will ever have another chance. On the other hand, if you do the work of letting go, it may happen at some point in the future that the relationship may be restored. There’s no way to know for sure.
Even so, letting go of past hurts with the Lord means letting go of negative thoughts and feelings, being forgiven and forgiving the other person (whether they know it or not), and living life fresh in the present. These are the rewards you can count on if you let go with God’s help.
What Happened to Me
When I started working with the Lord to heal the past, I could better focus on the now. Rather than living in the past, rehashing damaging conversations and mistakes, I now have time to enjoy the present.
I’ve taken up new hobbies, traveled with my husband, and more. New relationships have come into my life. It’s like a living garden that has sprung up in my life! However, none of this would have been possible without making the decision to do the work of letting go and leaning into God.
This process took some years and is ongoing with some parts of my past. However, the estrangement between my loved one and I has been resolved. We have reconnected and have a better relationship now than ever in the past. It’s something that I dearly treasure and don’t take for granted.
None of this would have been possible with my Lord.
Concluding Thoughts
Relinquishing past pain and trauma is a journey that requires God’s help, patience, faith, and a willingness to trust in His healing power. By forgiving, releasing our burdens, and embracing the present, we open ourselves to the new and beautiful things God has in store for us. Remember, you are not alone on this journey. God is with you every step of the way, offering His strength, comfort, and love.
If you’re struggling with depression, PTSD, or other mental health issues, do not hesitate to seek professional medical assistance. Combining medical help with God’s guidance can lead to profound healing.
Today, I challenge you to take a step toward letting go. Maybe it’s offering a prayer of forgiveness, speaking with a trusted friend, or simply meditating on God’s promises. Whatever it is, know that each step you take brings you closer to the freedom and peace that God desires for you.
God bless,
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