The Comfort in Letting Go

“It’s a new season, it’s a new day, a fresh anointing coming my way! It’s a season of power, and prosperity! It’s a new season, coming to me!”

We usually divide our lives into seasons, especially when we go through something difficult. We sometimes say, “I’m going through a tough season right now.” Then there are times we are elated to say, “I’m excited about what God is going to do in this season of my life.”

Personally, the latter is the case for me, but it didn’t get that way overnight! There will be highs and lows. The Bible tells us that just as there will be great times in our lives, there will also be times when it’s just plain old tough! In Ecclesiastes it lists all those times in our lives:

“A time to weep and a time to laugh; a time to mourn and a time to dance;” (3:4)
“…A time for war and a time for peace.” (3:8)

Have you thought about the role you play in this season of your life?

So I get that some things are just out of our control. But what I mean is, have you really taken a look at the season you’re currently in and what role you play in it? There are some things that we do control. It took me a minute to write a new post because God was working on me in this area. I can’t lie, I needed some time to understand what He was trying to teach me, but once I got it I received this peace that is beyond comprehension. The kind of peace that gives me freedom from what I was facing, while guarding my heart and my mind through Christ Jesus!

*Praise Break*

So let’s get into this post! I am so excited to share what God helped me through. During these last two months, things changed DRASTICALLY in my life. I thought I had the next season planned out (which is really crazy since in James 4 it says that I don’t even know what tomorrow will bring). But basically, when everything didn’t turn out the way I imagined, things got really hard for me—relatively fast. When I saw it wasn’t working out the way I thought it would, it hurt me. I got quiet, distant from my family and friends, I slept a lot, and I worried constantly. And even worse, I was barely eating—and ALL of my people can tell You that I CAN EAT! lol

It wasn’t an enjoyable time, and I had already made up in my mind that the next season of my life would be a difficult one. I was so wrong!

When things don’t always work out like we planned, we assume that our current feelings of hurt, anger, sadness or whatever are the feelings we have to carry into our next season.

I thought this next season of my life was going to be the worse. I literally had to figure out what I was about to do next. I said, “ok God I’m 24,” I was so upset that I didn’t have it all figured out, but honestly that’s where I went wrong.

A woe-is-me attitude can hinder what God is trying to help and heal. During that time, I listened to a sermon by Pastor Rick Warren, author of A Purpose Driven Life, and it was amazing. He talked about our reactions when we go through rough times—difficult seasons. “There is a difference between mourning and moaning,” he preached. Maybe that relationship didn’t work out. Perhaps the job you thought was secure was taken away from you. Whatever it is, choose to mourn that loss and not to moan about it.

Here’s why:

In Matthew, God says that those who mourn will be comforted (5:4).

We often think of death when the word mourn is used, but failed relationships, unsuccessful “plans”,  and honestly, a host of other things can cause us to mourn. I believe that mourning has a lot, if not everything, to do with letting go and allowing God to heal, console, and restore us; even when it comes to our “next season”. Are we allowing God to be God, or are we putting Him in a box because what we thought was right for us didn’t work out?

 

What are you bringing into Your next season?

If God didn’t step in like the faithful Father He is, I would’ve brought hurt, pain, anger, and so many messy things into this next season of my life. One day when I was spending time with God He showed me how I was stepping into my new season. I was like a kid holding on to a balloon, it was pink (God knows my favorite color), and I was trying to do the simplest tasks while holding on to that balloon. It was so difficult for me to use the restroom, wash my hands, and to sleep holding on to that string.

That balloon represented the situation I faced, and with it came those negative feelings. I tried to wrap my head around what was happening, “why?” I asked God. It wasn’t until God gave me that vision, only then did I understand. He wanted me to stop trying to comprehend what was going on (stop trying to hold on to it) and have the faith to just release the balloon so that I could move freely into the future. It’s cool to think about, because a balloon full of helium goes upward, to God. In the same way, we must release our failed past situations to God and let Him handle them accordingly.

See in Ecclesiastes it doesn’t say there’s a time to weep and laugh altogether, or a time to mourn and dance altogether. God separates them. God knows and He acknowledges our grievance, but when it’s time to take a step forward it’s important to let go and let God. God knows that you need time, but once that mourning is over don’t carry those burdens from what ended into what God wants to begin!

You learn in those mourning moments, so you’ll dance like you never danced before. How will you know what God can do if you’re constantly bringing that failed whatever balloon everywhere you go? Give that to God. When one thing ends, something else begins. God wants to do something new.

You see, I learned to rejoice in the failing of that thing I wanted so badly, because it means God is about to do bigger and better than I thought for myself, and not necessarily in that area, but in my life! It’s not easy, but you must constantly renew your mind (Romans 12:2). It allows you to get excited about God turning nothing into something!

 

So if you’re like me, then you’ve been through rough patches. I remember so many times I tried to move on to the next season of my life still carrying the burdens from the last. They were too heavy! The funny thing about letting go and letting God guide you is that you control it. You can release that balloon; you can stop carrying the unnecessary weight. You control your decision to hold on, or to release it to God.

For the first time in my life I released it to God. I haven’t tried to step into this new season doing things my way. I let go and let God tell me where I need to be and what I need to do. I have learned that when I give God my worries, His peace guards me.

After hearing some of what I have been going through this past month, some people that are close to me have asked a thousand times if I’m alright, and they are actually surprised when I tell them I’m excited. God’s plan is greater than my own, so I’m excited about it. I can’t explain it—seriously! It’s a peace that I can’t even understand, but I’m so grateful to have it.

God will do that for you too! I know that things aren’t always easy getting to that point. Trust me, I do! So when you find yourself thinking about that friendship, relationship, job, school—whatever it was that just didn’t work out the way you thought it would—renew your thoughts to focus on the things God promises, pray, and guard your heart.

I hope this blesses you, whether you’re mourning or dancing. God has a plan. I’m praying for you. God loves you and so do I!