Forget what hurt you but never forget what it taught you.

Why is letting go so hard to do? I think it is because we have a need to nurture. We want to fix things and put it all back together again.

Other times we are afraid. If we don’t try to fix it, who will? We want to be in control, oh my, we have to be in control!

I have been so guilty of this lately. I say I am praying about it and giving it to God and yet I pick it right back up and lament over it again and again. A friend asked me recently if it was rooted in Christ selflessness.

Wow! What a thought! Was I thinking of myself or what God wanted? Was I willing to let it go if it was for the Kingdom or was I too selfish and just had to keep it for myself?

At times when exhaustion has set in, we have just worn ourselves to a “frazzle” and can barely hold on but yet we just can’t quite let go. The enemy loves it when we are in that situation. He thinks he has us! We have so much pent up anxiety we don’t know what to do! That is when the Lord is waiting, patiently, wooing us to let it go!  “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:7 NIV

Of course there are some that refuse to release because they enjoy having something to talk about. The drama is their mama! They love to air it on social media and their day is not complete unless there is a “Woe is me!” in there somewhere.

God is not pleased when our days and weeks are filled with negativity. We bring ourselves down and others around us! Not only that, but our friends, coworkers and family never know what to expect from us. One minute we are up and the next minute we are biting their heads off! Yet we are their “Christian example”.

Our Facebook and Twitter status reads something like this:

“God is Love!”

“Ugh. My life is one big headache.”

“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.”

“This job is so boring and the guy beside me literally stinks. I don’t think he ever showers! Seriously?!”

“DEPRESSED….so DEPRESSED!!!”

“Jesus, Jesus, Oh what a wonderful child! Jesus, Jesus, so lowly, meek and mild!”

These are the things that bring everyone down! Little annoyances that we let consume us and then they come to define us. We become known as “Debbie Downer” and no one wants to be around us! We need to let those little things go!

And then the ultimate… forgiveness. We all know the Bible says if we do not forgive we cannot be forgiven. Yes, it really does say that! “But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.” Mark 11:26.  So why do we hold on to such pain? Because of that old sinful nature within us. Religion won’t get it; this is why we must have RELATIONSHIP!

We must keep that old man under subjection daily. It is so much better to let go of things that would build up and take root in our hearts and cause even more pain if we would allow them to stay and grow. It’s not worth it!

You will have less stress in your life, much better physical and mental health if you forgive and forget. “Love prospers when a fault is forgiven, but dwelling on it separates close friends.” Proverbs 17:9 NLT

You can start to heal when you let go of hurts from your past and forgive those who have harmed you and then forgive yourself for your mistakes.

Time is short. Revenge is not ours to give and neither is judgment. Choose peace.