Let It Go
Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Romans 12:2
The start of the new year is often filled with excitement and anticipation. There is a sense of promise, as new things and ideas await, and the prospect of unknown possibilities encourages us to look ahead with hope. For those who have experienced a difficult year, the arrival of a new year presents an opportunity to leave behind past challenges, heartaches, and suffering, and to wish for a more positive outlook moving forward.
Reflecting on the past year, I feel blessed by the ways it stretched me beyond what I thought possible. Despite uncertainties and trials, I discovered a resilience within myself that I hadn't recognized before. This experience gave me greater confidence in who I am and affirmed the person God created me to be.
As the new year began, I realized that I am not the same person I was at this time last year. While I remain the silly grandfather my grandchildren enjoy joking with and the dedicated husband my wife loves to share weekly lunches with, I have learned valuable lessons that I want to carry forward. More importantly, I recognize that there are certain things I can choose to walk away from especially when they prove unhealthy or disrupt my peace.
Believers in Jesus Christ rely on Him for strength and peace. In 2 Corinthians 12:9, Paul says, “Each time he said, ‘My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.’ So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.” Furthermore, “Then Jesus said, ‘Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.’” (Matthew 11:28) While we often focus on doing more, it's also important to let go. Sometimes, it means releasing relationships that don't bring value or peace. Seeking God's strength isn't just about holding on. It can also mean to in the words of the character Elsa from the movie Frozen, “Let it go!”
God needs us to let go of things to allow space for His spirit to grow. We do not often talk about how much spiritual growth requires release. We talk about discipline, commitment, perseverance, and adding new habits. But rarely do we acknowledge that some of the most transformative work God does in us begins with unclenching our fists. Letting go can feel like loss, but in Christ, it is often the doorway to renewal. Many of us carry memories, expectations, relationships, or identities that once served us but now quietly drain our peace. We hold on because it feels safer than stepping into the unknown. Yet Jesus invites us to trust Him enough to loosen our grip.
Transformation in Christ is not just about adding spiritual practices. It is about surrendering the patterns that keep us from becoming who God already calls us. His masterpiece (Ephesians 2:10). When Paul speaks of being transformed, he points us toward a renewing that begins in the mind, where old narratives, fears, and loyalties must be released so God can reshape us. Jesus, in His omniscience, knows exactly what we cling to and why. He sees the weight we carry, even the weight we’ve normalized. His invitation is not simply to endure but to trust Him enough to let go of what no longer aligns with His peace.
Letting go is an act of grace. It is choosing to believe that God’s love and grace is enough to hold us when we release what we once depended on. It is remembering that Jesus’ strength is made perfect not in our striving but in our surrender. Sometimes spiritual maturity looks less like doing more and more like getting rid of things that clutters the soul so Christ can fill the space. When we release bitterness, He grows compassion. When we unhealthy attachments, He restores peace. When we release old identities, He reminds us of who we are in Him. And when we release control, He leads us into freedom.
This kind of release is not passive. It is deeply intentional. It requires us to see our lives through Jesus’ lens: His wisdom, His timing, His gentle authority. It invites us to practice trust in small ways choosing silence instead of defensiveness, boundaries instead of resentment, and rest instead of relentless productivity. And it calls us into community, where others can encourage us, pray with us, and remind us that we don’t walk this journey alone.
Let us choose things like an expectation, a habit, a relationship pattern, or a lingering worry, and prayerfully place it before God. Ask Him to show whether it is something to release so He can renew our minds and deepen our peace. What is one belief, habit, or relationship I may be holding onto that is hindering my spiritual growth? Who is one person I can encourage or serve this week as I walk in the freedom Christ offers? My prayer is that we would trust Jesus enough to let go what no longer brings life so that His transforming grace can shape us into who He created us to be. Amen.