Letting Go

As I was talking to a friend, the subject of "letting go" came into our conversation again. It's been a very common struggle for most people. Some went on into another new relationship w/o fully resolved the old hurts (just like my friend) and got themselves into another heartache pretty soon.

Personally, I have learned to let go of my past hurts to God and receive healing from Him. I am able to talk to people who have hurt me without feeling uncomfortable or feeling any resentment. I have forgiven them totally with the grace of God. They are still my friends... and some are closer then the rest, depending on the other person's ability to do likewise.

The memories of the past never fade totally but my feeling towards them has changed... for I have let go and let God take over... I could love again if I want to.... without the old baggage...

Letting Go (From Daily Encounter)

"Forgetting those things which are behind ... I press on toward the goal" (Philippians 3:13, NIV).

The story is told of two monks who had gone on a day's journey. During the day the weather had become very nasty. On the way home that evening they had to cross a flooded fjord where a woman who needed help to get to the other side was waiting. Seeing her dilemma one of the monks picked her up and carried her across.

Later that evening the monk who didn't help the woman condemned the one who did saying, "You were wrong this afternoon helping that lady. You know that in our order we are to have no dealings with the opposite sex."

To which the other monk replied, "I carried her only across the stream. You are carrying her still."

When we carry hurts, grudges, resentments, guilt, grief or any unresolved issues from the past and fail to let go of them, we contaminate our present relationships with them. As another said, "Every unshed tear [and unresolved negative emotion] is a prism through which all of life's hurts are distorted."

True, we are to forget the past but we can't until we resolve it. Repressing hurts isn't forgetting them. All it does is bury them where they will take root, gather interest and come out in other damaging ways at a later time—either emotionally, relationally, physically, and/or spiritually.

We need to get all of these pains off our chest, express them in creative ways, forgive whoever has hurt us, and then let go of them. Only then can we truly forget those negative things which are behind and get on with our life free of these encumbrances.

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, help me to resolve any and all unresolved issues from the past and let go of any hurt, anger, grief, fears, and resentment so I won't take these things out on others, and so I will be free to fully live and fully love. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."

Another good article to read here:

When others have harmed our lives, it is easy to adopt an attitude of blame. We need to realize that the ultimate solution must come from inside of ourselves.