an empty chair by a window with an open bible beside it

The Power of Release: Letting Go of What You Can’t Control

This post is part of the Forgiveness & Release Series. Next: Rebuilding Trust After Family Betrayal

Some burdens were never yours to carry—but you’ve been holding them for years.

Guilt over what your parents never resolved.
Shame for the family secrets no one dared to talk about.
Pressure to fix dysfunction you didn’t create.

The truth is, you can’t heal what you keep holding on to.

Letting go isn’t giving up—it’s choosing peace over pressure.
It’s trusting that God sees the full picture, even when we don’t.

I remember the moment I realized I was exhausted from carrying the weight of other people’s choices. I wanted restoration, but I couldn’t force it. I wanted peace, but I couldn’t find it by controlling every outcome.

That’s when I understood:
I needed to release the outcome—and trust God with the rest.

Why Holding On Keeps You Stuck

When you keep holding on to the pain, you keep living in the past.
Your thoughts replay the same conversations.
Your body stays tense.
Your joy stays on hold.

📌 If you’ve ever felt like forgiveness was impossible, read When Forgiveness Feels Impossible ← Internal link.

The longer you grip the pain, the heavier it feels—and the harder it becomes to see God’s hand in the situation.

Letting Go Doesn’t Mean You Don’t Care

We often confuse letting go with indifference. That’s not what this is.

Letting go means:

  • You choose not to let someone else’s choices dictate your joy.

  • You stop replaying what you can’t rewrite.

  • You give God room to work without micromanaging the outcome.

Psalm 55:22 says:
“Cast your cares on the Lord and He will sustain you.”

📌 For a step-by-step process of surrender, explore The Forgiveness Fast: 21 Days to Letting Go After Betrayal ← Internal link.

Practical Step: The Empty Chair Exercise

Try this today:

  1. Sit across from an empty chair.

  2. Picture the person you’ve been carrying the weight for.

  3. Speak aloud what you’re releasing—pain, expectation, guilt, control.

  4. Pray a simple prayer of surrender:

    “God, I release them into Your care. I trust You to do what I cannot.”

This may not fix everything overnight. But it will free you to breathe again.

It’s Time to Reflect:

  • What have I been trying to control that isn’t my responsibility?

  • How would my heart feel lighter if I truly surrendered it to God?

  • Where in my life do I need to stop replaying what I can’t rewrite?

Continue Your Healing Journey:
Order your copy of Perfectly Placed – Discover how to heal, restore, and walk in purpose after family pain.
 Download your free guide: Breaking the Cycle: A 5-Step Healing Worksheet ← Internal link.
📌 Read next: Forgiveness Isn’t Forgetting—It’s Freedom ← Internal link

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