It’s the beginning of 2023. For many of us, the new year is a time that inspires hope and new beginnings. It’s a time for goal setting, vision casting, and celebrating possibilities. Throughout the month of January we turned to Scriptures such as Isaiah 43:18-19 to remind ourselves and affirm that “God is doing a new thing”. Some “new” things we experience are met with joy and excitement, particularly when they align with our expectations and fulfill something we have long been waiting for. This often brings about a smooth graceful transition and excitement for the future.
But what happens when the “new” barges into life unexpectedly and uninvited? Unexpected events like a sudden job loss, a medical diagnosis, an abrupt end to a relationship, or betrayal can shock your world. These types of unexpected changes can be difficult to accept especially when accompanied by anxiety, devastation, grief, and the pain of letting go. It is natural to feel resistance when faced with a new situation or experience that requires stepping into the unknown.
It is important to understand that we must learn to let go of the past. The more we release our grip on what was, the better we position our hearts to receive what will be. Learning to let go is important because if we hold too tightly to the past it can prevent us from moving forward.
New is an acquired taste. That is part of what makes letting go so difficult. Anyone who drinks new wine will say the old is better because it takes time for our pallets to adjust. The same is true in life when it comes to allocating to change, however, when we have an awareness of the goodness of God, letting go becomes much easier. Could it be that God is asking us to let go because He has something better in store? Could He be rerouting our lives to align with His will so that we can experience His best?
Nowhere in Scripture has God ever required someone to let go, and it resulted in a downgrade.
Quite the contrary: God loves to upgrade our lives! Because our ability to let go is directly proportional to our ability to trust that He is good, it is essential that we believe God has the best intentions in His heart towards us.
Revelation 21:5 says, “Then He who sat on the throne said, ‘Behold, I make all things new’. And He said to me, ‘Write, for these words are true and faithful’.” The word new in this scripture is the word regenerate. It means to renew something to a better form especially after it has been damaged or lost. We see this process of regeneration in our bodies as our tissue and some of our organs can regenerate. In biology, some species can grow a new tail or body part. And in ecology we see the power of regeneration after a forest fire devastates an area and the entire environment regenerates creating an environment that is new and full of life.
This is the Savior’s heart for you. If you are working hard to let go after the impact of devastation and loss, you can be assured that God promises to regenerate, bring new life, restore, redeem, and come to your rescue.
However, anchoring ourselves in the goodness of God doesn’t mean there won’t be grief involved in letting go. But holding fast to the belief that He is good will empower you to loosen your grip on what was. God’s intention is to journey with you through grief. He sees you, knows you, and loves you deeply. As you choose to let go, your hands and heart will then have room to receive His very best.
So what steps can you take?
Glad you asked. If you are in a season where the “new” barged into life uninvited here are some practical steps you can take to help you let go and move forward into the future. If the idea of ten things overwhelms you, that is ok. Just pick one or two to help get you started.
- Recognize and acknowledge the past hurt or trauma.
- Allow yourself to feel and process the emotions.
- Seek out healthy ways to cope with the emotions, such as talking to a therapist or joining a support group.
- Practice giving yourself grace in the process.
- Focus on the present and take steps toward building a better future.
- Cultivate gratitude and practice daily affirmations.
- Surround yourself with positive people and activities.
- Give your worries and fears to God in prayer and trust that He will take care of them.
- Pray and meditate on His word.
- Trust in God’s plan and know that He is always with you and has your best interest at heart.
Let’s remember that God is doing new things. He will regenerate and restore to better than before. We can trust His plan for our lives and that He will work all things together for good. Even if the “new” is uninvited and accompanied with the hard, we can be confident that He is aligning our lives with His will so that we can experience His very best.
If you are dealing with the trauma of betrayal, our staff and facilitators are here to walk with you through it. Message us today at [email protected] or join a Healing Hope Group.
