I do not think there is a single soul on this earth that has not had to let go of something. In life, we have to let go of friendships and relationships, let go of lives that have been lost, let go of jobs, let go of places of worship, and many more things like addictions! I would love to extend helpful ways to help you let go of things you need to by using the examples in my lifetime and experiences that I have had. These are just my suggestions and I pray that they help you as they have helped me.
Life definitely throws us many curveballs and a lot of times they are not easy to maneuver through. But the first step is to take a step back and realize that many of those curveballs are just added experiences in our lifetime to help us grow. When you’re in the situation, it is not easy and is very tough, but afterwards many times we can look back and prayerfully, be thankful in changes that have occurred. Sometimes we are not thankful but in each one we learn a lesson and we grow.
Throughout my life, I have had to break away from many relationships and friendships because they were not leading me in the path of happiness or in God-like intention. Some of these relationships I thought I would have for a lifetime, but as I grew, I grew to love the Lord more and more every day, and I saw where these relationships were leading me down the wrong path. God says to test all things and if they do not help you grow or they influence you the wrong way then you need to avoid them less they bring you down.
It is very important to remember that God created you for His purpose and we have to always keep Him our top priority every day and in every situation! Letting go may be hard to do, but His plans for you, for all of us, are bigger and better! When transitioning away from bad influences, keep yourself busy. Doing for others and reading His word on what He expects of us will open doors to much better influences and people of fellowship who truly love you! It might take time, like a couple years or so, but it is worth it!
Many people in our families and friendships pass away! I can’t count how many close members I have lost. Pain from this kind bites and letting go can be relentless! It hurts and our hearts break. We do not understand and the way some pass is cruel and vicious. That said, a good verse in Romans says whether in life or death we belong to the Lord! This world is mean and the thought of a loved one in His realm is comforting!
The word comforting is calming, but it also triggers the words like saved, heaven, and peace. Are these loved ones really saved and with Him? So many thoughts and questions embrace the mind. But that said, they are now in His hands and we have to focus on us and are we saved? As earlier I said to focus on others and read His word. Here it is no different. If we transform our minds outward and not about “me” then we can project our hurt into helpfulness. We can focus our minds on His word and find comfort in them. Jesus experienced so much more than our minds can wrap around! He is our hope and example! It takes time to heal from loss, but know you are never alone in this. Reach out to elders or those common to your pain and they can also help you.
Besides relationships and loss, a change in job status may be necessary to improve your spirit and outlook! Some jobs are toxic! That said, sometimes your presence can be a blessing and good influence to others! I have farmed most of my life but also substitute taught, taught religion, babysat, cleaned homes, had a Personalized Poetry business, worked in a restaurant, worked in a deli, taught religion and worked in a daycare, and a little more that I am probably forgetting but in each job I made myself be happy and joyful for others! Some days I hurt so bad and was in pain, but I held true to spread joy and make others more important than myself! I could see the difference and I honestly believe each individual needs strength from others to draw from!
That said, in every place you work, you cannot please everyone and not everyone is going to like you. This is not important because God says in all we do, we do for Him. If we make situations better and be our best, we reflect that we live for Him and not for man or woman! It is up to us to do our jobs properly and affectively as we can as far as it depends on us! If we concentrate on doing our own good work and not on what others do then we can succeed anywhere!
However, there are some places that no matter how you work or what you do, you get no where and influences are not on a positive note. If you choose to move forward for these reasons or for reasons to just improve, then just remember to do your best wherever you work! Be happy in your job and the day will go quicker! Transitioning is not easy, but pray about it and ask Him for His help and be sincere in asking! We live every day living for Him.
This next topic in letting go is very personal to me! I will probably be spending more time on this so please bear with me! In 2009 I let go and let God lead me on a new path with Him! For the first 40 or so years of my life I worshipped as a Catholic and even taught the religion for about 10 or so years. These wonderful young minds would ask me questions I did not know! I was about 21 when I began teaching and at this time also cleaning the rectory the priests lived in. I was determined to answer their questions so started reading the Bible and asking the priests questions. The more I read and studied and asked my questions with them telling me the Western Orthodox changed this or that, I got more confused and searched harder!
For example, I asked why we as Catholics pray to the saints when in Hebrews God says there is only One Mediator and that is Jesus Christ! Every priest told me the same thing that the Western Orthodox changed that and one of the last ones I spoke to said and I quote, “ We are now leaning against that.” Yet, the very next mass he looked specifically at me during and said, “Let’s pray to Saint” so and so…. I did not like being lied to. I was really disappointed in so many untruths by that time that I drew a line and said no more!
Sometimes we have to make those decisions to just let go. It is not easy especially after a very long time believing something is right! I could go on with so many more inconsistencies but this is not my topic. Letting go was tough and it meant leaving everything I knew behind and starting over! By this time I had spent years reading and researching. I was scared! My family was top priority yet by this time I knew God came first! I also took it to heart that God’s word said those who preach and teach will be held more accountable! Oh I taught for 10 or so years! I taught what I was told not what was written. My soul was convicted! I had to let go and no waiting!
I searched different places to go and eventually found a home with The Church of Christ. Let me tell you, the influence this preacher, Roger Shouse at Charlestown Road Church of Christ, had was in alignment with what I knew and he preached while stepping on toes and not caring about pacifying but convicting! My young daughter and son followed suit. She began to read on her own and knew she too needed something more. We all did! We were baptized in 2009 and I felt free! My husband did not follow until 4 years later.
When we quit going to that Catholic Church where I taught so many years and was a part of for 40 or more years, many who supposedly loved the Lord and others quit talking with us. Some turned their backs literally from waving as we drove by. One family member said, “You left your family.” My response back was, “No, I gained a family!” You see, perspective on God was my influence and love for all. Ostracizing someone who is searching for more for their own heart is not a part of God because God says to love all
I let go to find more for me and it awakened something so much better yet I didn’t realize what I left was probably not the best influence either until after I left. At that same time, my biological mother passed and I had just joined this church and after everything that I did for this community only some family members and one couple from that whole church that I left because they were friends of ours came to that funeral home, but no one else. It awakened in me the true meaning of Christ. I cannot tell you how many people from this new church at that time that I did not know that came to support me and bring us food and gifts. I was so overwhelmed by the love from my new church, family and disappointed at the same time from the one that I thought I had. I realized right then and there that by letting go, God was showing me something better.
On top of letting go, some of us have bad habits and one of mine is eating when I’m stressed. I love to cook and I love to bake and I love to eat. But in doing so I was not eating healthy and I was a big woman. Having grandchildren has made me realize that I have to get healthy and I want to live and make a difference in their lives to the fullest that I can. Some have other bad habits and addictions and letting go is so hard for some. I have found that help in having a coach is one of the greatest ways to help let go of my bad habits. If you are having issues and a habit or an addiction that you have, I must urge you to the fullest to find someone to talk to to help you, seek the Lord and ask Him for His help first! If you are sincere and searching, you will find it. You will find Him! I am thankful to Him and my Trilivy coach Amy Peters for being there to guide me! I am currently almost 50 pounds lighter and my goal is another 30-40 off!
I pray that this article was helpful to you in ways to let go of some of your issues. I am not a professional, but I am a God-fearing loving person who cares about all of you! You were made in God‘s image and you are important. Please look in the mirror and see the beauty that was given you and understand that no one can take that away from you because it’s your heart. Letting go, yes, is hard but on the other side is beauty!