25. You Get to Choose

In the process of letting go, it’s important to acknowledge that having something taken from you is not the same as choosing to let it go.

When we don’t let things go and try to hold onto them when they are no longer ours, it creates bitterness and resentment in our hearts. That, in turn, stops us from moving forward because our attention becomes focussed on what has been taken from us. In letting go, however, there is immense freedom. There is usually pain or hardship for a while but, if we grieve well, it doesn’t take long for that pain to be washed away, and for a new sense of freedom and excitement to take its place, as we step into the new thing which Holy Spirit is leading us into.

It takes strength to hold onto something.

It takes courage to let it go!

There have been many times in my life when I’ve tried to enter into a bizarre kind of power struggle with the Lord because I really wanted the ‘new thing’ that I knew He was opening up to me, but I was too scared to let go of the ‘old thing’ which was familiar and safe. It’s a bit like holding onto an old rope with one hand and a new rope with your other hand – you feel like you’re in a tug of war, except you’re the one being ‘tugged’ from both sides!

The truth is that we can do that if we choose to. We can choose to hold onto both ropes, one in each hand, because Father is enduringly patient and He will not force us to let go. However, the reality is that it’s an exhausting place to live and usually, after a very stressful time of being torn between two choices, we will let go of one rope and grasp hold of the other one with both hands.

It’s important to note that letting go of the ‘old thing’ doesn’t necessarily mean that the first thing was bad or wrong, only that the second (or new) thing is better.

Hebrews 10:1,4,9 says “Behold, I have come to do Your will, O God.  He takes away the first that He may establish the second.” Likewise, in Hebrews 8:6 it says, “But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises.” 

This scripture is referring to the burnt offerings and sacrifices which God’s people were required to offer under the Old Covenant being taken away to make place for the New Covenant. It wasn’t because the offerings and sacrifices were wrong, it was simply because Father had a better way. Instead of sacrificing animals, Jesus Himself would be the One true sacrifice that would pay the price once and for all and make a way for all people to come to the Father.

However, letting go is a process, not a one-off, tick the box and then ba-da-boom, it’s done! Although the decision to let go is a one-off, the actual walking out of that decision is a process that can take a long time, depending on how intentional we are and how willing we are to go through the process in the way Holy Spirit is leading us. It takes a lot of time and patient processing to let go of something.

If you are going through that, be kind to yourself. Press into the grace that Father gives you for that season and don’t place expectations on yourself which are unrealistic and unhelpful.

You get to choose whether you will go through that process or not. Your heavenly Father is incredibly patient. He will wait!

The choice is yours.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Until next time ….

Ask yourself if there is any bitterness or resentment in your heart from things that have been taken away from you in the past, which you didn’t feel ready to let go of.

If there are, choose to forgive. Then ask Holy Spirit to help you embrace the new thing.

Meditate on the following scripture and ask Holy Spirit to speak to you through it. Receive hope and faith to move forward, and thank Him for the ‘new thing’ that will spring forth in your life.

 “Do not remember the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold,

I will do a new thing, now it shall spring forth; shall you not know it?

I will even make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.“

Isaiah 43:18-19

Nicky Heymans is an author of historical fiction who is known for drawing fresh life and inspiration out of familiar Bible stories. She would love to hear from you! Please feel free to share your thoughts or ask questions by scrolling down to the bottom of this page and clicking on the 'contact' link, and she will get back to you.