We often hear the phrase "let go and let God" as if it's directly quoted from Scripture. Although it is not, it's a powerful line that simply communicates how God wants to heal us of our hurts, disappointments and frustrations.

The Bible tells us to let go of many things that happen to us. The truth is, my friends, our hurts tend to become all the more painful as we hold on to them.

A painful picture

To help you understand this, visualise a rose stem in your hand, complete with thorns. Now imagine yourself squeezing the stem, with its thorns piercing your hand. Because it's painful and dangerous, it's logical to open your hand and let the rose go, so that you can tend to your injuries.

Sadly, the truth is that we often choose to hold on to the rose tighter – by not letting go of the hurts, offences, disappointments, frustrations, and other things that we need to let go of. This, my friends, happens to all of us.

Learn to let go

We should all learn to let go. Holding on, and clutching tighter, only hurts us more than we know. When we choose to hold on to an offence, we become bitter. When we hold on to a disappointment, we might become cynical. When we refuse to forgive, we get stuck in a time when we were hurt, unable to move on and enjoy what God is doing. Letting go frees us up!

God Himself commanded that we should let go of what has happened, whether it was a few moments ago or a few decades ago. Why? It's because letting go is the only way for us to see Him do new things!

God tells us in Isaiah 43:18-19 to "Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland."

Forgetting the former

Let's all face it: Memories linger. But we must understand that these memories, whether good or bad, will only have as much power as we give them. And we give them power when we dwell on them.

Think about it: Dwelling on memories of how we were mistreated will make us bitter. Dwelling on past mistakes and failures makes us feel worthless. Dwelling on bad memories stops us from seeing the good that God is doing in our lives today, even as we speak.

Friend, I challenge you. Would you want to experience God's goodness in the land of the living? Then let go of all those things that hurt you. Forgive your offenders. Let go of the offence. Be free to live life in Jesus.