Let It Go

by Donna L. Watkins

So many times we get stuck in seasons of our lives. In the times of trouble we tend to rehearse the bad times, as if to justify that it's what life is all about, as if we should get used to trials and tribulations. We are not without them and never will be, but God promises us good times and more than that peace and joy amidst even the trials and tribulations.

© 2009 Donna L. Watkins - Trillium - Ivy Creek Preserve, Charlottesville, VA
God wants to renew and refresh us through our troubles if we will allow Him to. It's hard to give thanks when we're dealing with problems, but we are commanded to do so.

I Thessalonians 5:18 says, "In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you."

It only says to give thanks, not to feel thankful. It's an outward statement that we trust God to take care of our lives and even in the worst of times, we thank Him for all that is happening in our lives because inwardly we know that He will turn it to good when we love him as Romans 8:28 promises.

Sometimes we need a reminder that we are not designed to live in trouble every day of our life. Do you know people who seem to attract problems? They actually seem to always be in the midst of some crisis. Some people are actually addicted to the lifestyle of turmoil, others may just believe it's their lot in life. You can tell those from the way they talk about life.

Statements like:

If there's something going around, I'll catch it. I've always had health problems.
I hate going to work. It's the most boring job I've ever had.
I have a rotten boss and my coworkers are all messed up. Work is a nightmare.
You can't trust anyone these days. They're all out for themselves.
Things never work out the way I want them to.

We are often our own worst enemy. We can't base today and tomorrow on the past, so the first thing we need to do is let go of the past. Stop dragging the "there and then" into the "here and now." Let go of what God has forgiven and forgotten about from your past. You can't do anything to change it and you only sin more by burdening today with past forgiven sins. Life will turn into a beautiful garden.

Isaiah 43:18-19 (NIV): "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 desert and streams in the wasteland."

Let go of what others have done to you. Remember Joseph's example of his brothers selling him into slavery and even enduring prison for something he did not do, yet he said that God meant it all for good and he left it behind. He didn't churn away at bitterness. He looked for the good in all things and came out victorious and in a high position of influence and honor.

Let go of what you have done to others. Consider all that Saul had done to persecute the Christians. He was able to put it behind him and look ahead. Paul said in Philippians 3:13b-14, "but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." Jesus died for our sins and if we don't leave them behind we make that sacrifice worthless in our lives daily.

Let go of what you failed to do. Missed opportunities are going to happen, but lingering on them causes you to continually miss them as your life passes by. The disappointment of what you despair over must be put to rest so you can reach out and take today and tomorrow's opportunities.

Don't waste your future by dwelling in the past. No one can destroy you without your permission and cooperation. It's not what they do to you that determines your outcome ... it's what YOU do with it.

Related Articles:
Getting Out Of The Negative Loops
Awful Circumstances
Rosy or Black

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