There’s power in forgiving and letting go. When you forgive and let go, you can live a life of victory. We all go through disappointments, hurt, setbacks and things that we do not understand. You prayed for a loved one, but they did not get well.
Or you worked hard for a promotion, but you did not get it. You stood in faith for a relationship, but it did not work out, or someone promised you something, and they did not deliver.
We will all be hurt in this life. Many times, we will be hurt intentionally by what people say about us or what people do to us. In fact, any time we read the word “forgiveness” we instantly call to mind certain heartaches, hurts, and problems from our past. The memories are still fresh because we have been hurt very deeply.
We have all had bad memories. We have all had experiences we want to forget. Because of how deeply we have been hurt, it is hard to consider forgiving the perpetrators. But the Bible gives us one very important reason we need to forgive. We forgive others because God forgave us.
Forgiving is such a powerful and transformative act. While you might think forgiving someone is for them, it can also be for you.
Forgiveness brings about healing and growth for all involved, so it’s important to harness it.
Remember, forgiveness will allow you to break free from the heavy burden of resentment. You shouldn’t be carrying that around. Forgiveness is an attribute of strength.” In other words, forgiving shows courage.
When you forgive, you claim your power, nurture your well-being, and embark on a path of personal growth and fulfillment.
So, when you’re faced with the opportunity to forgive, remember that it’s a gift you give yourself. So let me tell you what forgiveness is, forgiveness does not start with a feeling. Instead, it is a decision of your will to no longer charge the offense to the offender’s account. It is the decision to release the other person from a debt despite how you feel.
Why is it so hard for us to forgive and let go of past hurts? Why is it so difficult to let go of experiences that have caused us pain and suffering?
Every day women face a choice: you can look backward, allowing your past to determine your identity, or you can imagine a brighter future for yourselves. Which ones succeed? Which ones realize the destiny God has planned for them?
Those of us facing obstacles of our own have the same choice and challenge every day. Like the Bible character Ruth, we can choose to let go of the past and start the future in a new land (Ruth 1:16).
Ruth was a woman of excellence because she was not held hostage to her past hurts. We can learn from yesterday, but we are not to live in it.
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What Does the Bible Say About Forgiveness and Letting Go?
What the Bible Says about Forgiveness and Letting Go – The Bible is filled with scriptures that provide instructions and encouragement on how to forgive and let go.
From the Old Testament stories of Abraham and Moses to the New Testament teachings of Jesus and Paul, the Bible gives us many examples of individuals who have had to forgive and move on, even in the face of great hurt and injustice.
As believers, we are called to forgive as God forgives us, and to trust in Him as He gives us strength to let go of the past and look to the future. Forgiveness and letting go allow us to experience healing and freedom in our lives, and the Bible provides us with the wisdom and comfort to do so.
So many of us today walk around and find ourselves in error. The error is hiding anger, bitterness, resentment, and revenge. All these, however, come down to one thing—unforgiveness.
Unforgiveness holds us hostage, and when we try to pull away, it pulls us right back and we find ourselves prisoners of what someone else has done to us or what we have done to ourselves.
When you let go and forgive them, you find the freedom to refocus on God’s purpose for your life.
Isaiah 26:3 says, “You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you” (NLT).
Remember: What Would Jesus Do. Jesus wants us to love one another as he has loved us, and he explained that the way that people will know that we are his disciples is by the love that we have for one another (Jn 15:12,15; 13:35).
The Bible says to treat your enemies with kindness. It is impossible to do this on your own. That is why you need the love of Jesus to fill you up.
Romans 12:21 says, “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (NIV).
Jesus was extremely kind and merciful in the way that he forgave those who sinned against others.
Jesus told the paralytic, “Child, your sins are forgiven” (Mk 2:5); when a sinful woman bathed Jesus’ feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair, Jesus said, “Your sins are forgiven” (Lk 7:48); when a woman caught in adultery was brought before him, he said, “I do not condemn you” (Jn 8:11); and as Jesus hung on the cross he told the repentant criminal, “Today you will be with me in paradise” (Lk 23:43).
Jesus often spoke about forgiveness, forgave those who sinned against others, forgave those who sinned against him, and asked the Church to continue his healing ministry.
Jesus taught, “If you forgive others their transgressions, your heavenly Father will forgive you” (Mt 6:14).
Peter asked Jesus how often it is necessary to forgive, and Jesus replied, “Seventy-seven times” (Mt 18:22), a number to be taken symbolically, not, for the never-ending way that we ought to forgive.
Do not see people of what they do, see them through the love of God.
Do not go another day with resentment, bitterness, and unforgiveness in your heart. Start practicing these four choices and move on to live the life God created you to live.
Related: Giving It to God: Forgive and Let Go of Past Hurts
How To Let Go of Past Hurts?
Most of us think that holding on to past hurts is o.k. Life is full of past hurts, disappointments, failures, regrets, and people who have hurt us. Who really wants to carry all those reminders around day after day, year after year? No one. And yet we do it anyway.
How to let go of the past hurts? How to let go of the hurt? How to move on? These are some of the questions we have asked ourselves over and over again and especially when we are neck-deep in pain.
Our past hurt influences our present lives significantly and not always in a good way. Regardless of whether you had a terrible or happy one, if you cannot let go of your past hurts, you might get stuck in life.
Letting go is not at all easy. Regardless of how exactly you are stuck in the past, the way of being can hold you back in all areas of your life and prevent you from enjoying the present moment.
When we let Christ’s love and forgiveness become part of who we are, we change and become more like Christ. And is that not our goal, to become more like Him?
It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So, I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.’ Galatians 2:20 (NLT)
So, regardless of how much we have been hurt by others, let us forgive them. If God forgives us of our numerous sins towards Him, we can forgive others of their (comparatively) lesser sins towards us.
Forgiveness is a good idea until we have to give it. Forgiveness does not mean approving a wrong or excusing an evil. Forgiveness is not necessarily the reconciliation of a relationship.
The Greek word translated forgiveness means “to release.” Forgiveness is our choice to release a person from an obligation for a wrong committed against us. In the New Testament times, the word was used when canceling a debt.
Are we destined to carry them forever? Is it even possible to let go of past hurts? Fortunately, we can let go of past hurts and stop carrying them around. Because forgiveness is a matter of the heart, the emotions of hurt, anger, cruel words spoken in anger. A betrayal of trust. Promises broken.
A destructive relationship you knew you should not have entered, disappointment, and pain can sometimes obscure the importance of extending mercy and grace.
However, forgiveness is worth figuring out. It releases both the giver and the receiver and allows both to experience the gift of freedom from the past.
I am remined how God encourages us in His Word: Be tenderhearted and forgiving.
God has your best interests at heart when He tells you to forgive and let go of your past hurts. He wants you to be happy and to live a long, healthy life.
Nursing hurt or anger against someone and having unforgiveness in your heart are not worth losing your joy, peace, and health over.
Do not let the devil lie to you about you cannot forgive anyone, if you find it difficult to forgive someone, then look to the cross and see how perfectly God has let go every sin you have and will ever commit.
Bring Jesus into your bitter situation. When you know how perfectly He loves you and has forgiven you, you will be able to forgive that person too.
And the more you let go of offences against you, the less the enemy can make inroads into your mind, heart, and body. Remember when you need to let go of past hurts:
- Have compassion for the person that has offended or hurt you.
- Be conscious of your need to forgive.
- Release the person. Holding them hostage, locked up, is holding yourself hostage, and locked up to pain.
- Forgive the wrong done by the person to you. And let them go free, just as the Lord forgave you. Colossians 3:13 NIV
Remember, God loves you, understands your pain and suffering, and has forgiven you through the cross. He wants you to know that your past hurts do not have to poison your future.
No matter how many dark days you have experienced, God has prepared many wonderful open doors of opportunity, favor, and good success for you to walk through in the days ahead. Your brightest and most glorious days are still ahead of you.
Related: Is It Possible to Forgive and Forget?
Why Is It So Hard to Let Go of Past Hurts?
As a woman, we love hard, but we find one of the best things you can do is release it. Let it go. There is nothing like the pain of letting go.
There is nothing like the pain of loving something or someone so much, that in the end, all you can do is let them go, and let them be happy, even though you know you will never be a part of their happiness.
If you go around dwelling on it, wondering why this did not work out, why my loved one did not get healed, why I did not get that promotion, all that is going to do is lead to bitterness, resentment, self-pity.
Before long you will be blaming others, blaming yourself, even blaming God. You may not have understood it. It may not have been fair. But when you release it, it is an act of your faith. You are saying, “God, I trust you.
I know you are in control. And even though it did not work out my way, you said, ‘all things are going to work together for my good.’ so I believe you still have something good in my future”. When I am trying to get over a past hurt, I depend on God to bring me out of it.
Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” 1 Corinthians 2:9
The devil would love for you to stay stuck in the past hurts. He would not even mind if, dreaming of an unrealistic future, we slacked off on what God has for us today.
Each day we have the choice to embrace the future God has prepared for us, are continuing to lick our wounds.
Many of us get stuck in past hurts because of our need for certainty. We need to feel certain that we can avoid pain and, ideally, find some comfort in our lives.
Letting go of past hurts also means stepping into the unknown. It means having the courage to let go of what is familiar – even if it is negative – and being vulnerable enough to embrace and learn from what is ahead.
Holding on to past hunts can be a conscious decision just like forgiving, letting go and moving forward can be a conscious decision.
Either way it goes, it is a decision you must make. Do you want to forgive, let go of past hurts, and move on, or do you want to hold on to the hurt and anger, and suffer the consequences?
And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you. Ephesians 4:32
“They will all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them,” declares the Lord, “for I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more.”
– Jeremiah 31:34
Why is Forgiveness so Important?
After the initial storm of anger, the hurt, pain, holding onto the grudges, and sadness has passed, learning how to forgive is a crucial part of lifelong journeys to kindness and compassion.
Forgiveness is such an important tool in our constant growth in life, it will free you from the shackles it is bound to.
Forgiving others can be extremely important, and difficult at the same time, but it is essential for our spiritual growth.
Jesus teaches us in Matthew 6:14-15 to pray, “forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.” Just as God forgives us by offering grace and mercy, we must also forgive those who have caused us harm.
When you refuse to forgive, it can lead to cycles of bitterness and resentment that can negatively impact our relationships and our spiritual life.
When we forgive, and let go, we create space for more wonderful, positive, new experiences in life. Keep moving forward. Looking back to what was will not get you to where you want to be. Do not stay stagnant, push through your negative emotions.
People who refuse to forgive often sabotage their future and create an emotional cancer that spreads into every other aspect of their lives. Even those who genuinely desire to forgive often struggle to get beyond their wounded emotions.
You can learn how to forgive and not forget – just because you forgive a person in your heart does not mean you have to allow them power in your life. When you allow yourself not to forgive the other person, you are allowing them to have power over you.
Take it from me, you can forgive yourself, you can forgive others, and you can forgive even when you do not know exactly who to forgive, because forgiveness is not about who is to blame or who is at fault. It is about letting go, completely and permanently within yourself.
When You Hold onto bitterness and past hurts, it can make you.
- Carry that bitterness into other relationships.
- Live in the past rather than the present
- Depressed or anxious when talking about the situation.
- Unable to find meaning or purpose in the good things in life.
- Compromise our spiritual beliefs.
- Separation from other associates.
How Do You Forgive and Forget Your Past?
When there is someone who have hurt your heart to the core, who have talked about you where there is know point of return, it is only by the Grace of God that will save you.
How often have we told yourselves that you could forgive the person who hurt you, who wronged you, but you could never forget the offense? You may even have tried to forget what happened, but to know avail.
“Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse” (Romans 12:14).
Have you ever been in a position where you wanted to bless someone who has wounded or wronged you? It is more natural to curse that person, to call down condemnation on them.
It is even harder to bless if the other person does not care about the hurt, they have caused you, or they gloat about it. But Romans 12:14 is a command, so we need to talk about how to return good for evil.
If God has allowed you to go through some painful experiences, and if you have forgiven the person but still have the memories, God wants to use that event for your growth and His glory.
A Jesus enemies were nailing Him to the cross, Jesus said, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34).
I believe once we say what Jesus said, that the only way we receive forgiveness.
Forgiveness is not pretending like the wound did not happen, or that it did not really hurt. Then you are lying. If it happened, it happened, and if it hurt, it hurt.
Forgiveness does not mean just brushing off the offense as if it were nothing. So, forgiveness does not start with a feeling.
Instead, it is a decision of your will to no longer charge the offense to the offender’s account. It is the decision to release the other person from a debt despite how you feel.
And remember what Jesus said on the cross, “it is finished. Forgive and let it go.
He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” – 2 Corinthians 12:9
Has anyone ever hurt or offended you? God tells us in His word that we can forgive others because of our love for Jesus Christ and the forgiveness God granted us through His death on the cross.
“Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you” (Ephesians 4:32).
It is time to unload. Take the weight off your shoulders, and live. You cannot go back into the past, it is time to go forward. You can do it.
Prayer to Forgive and Let Go
Lord, I worship You and praise You. I glorify You. Father God, forgive me for ever looking to people or relying on the arm of flesh or trusting in man, regardless of the form. I repent right now for making others my source instead of You. Today, I put my eyes only on You. You alone are my Savior. You alone are my Provider. You alone are my Healer and my Protector. I trust in You. From this day forward, I am depending on You alone. I am relying on You ONLY. Thank You for showing Yourself strong on my behalf. Let everything in my life be seen and done in such a way that You are the most seen, most exalted, and most glorified because You are worthy, worthy, worthy. Thank You, Lord, for meeting my needs. Thank You for doing abundantly above what I could ever do on my own or with another man’s help. Give me the grace to live out a life of trust in You all the days of my life. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Free Bible Verse Printables
If you are looking for some free printable bible verses to decorate or hang on your wall, you’ve come to the right place! Here you will find an extensive collection (that I add to regularly) of bible verse wall art with all your favorite verses of scripture and biblical quotes.
Here you can find some printable Bible verses as art to frame and hang on the walls of my home. Adding a little Jesus to the walls is a great way to bless your home and family!
These free printable bible verses with pictures are the perfect way to spruce up and add a little Jesus to any space in your home or office!
