Let Go and Let God: The Hard Work of Forgiveness

Let go and let God forgiveness sounds good on paper… until real life hits.

Ever find yourself still mad at someone who doesn’t even remember what they did?

You’re folding laundry, driving to work, cooking dinner—and boom. That one moment, that name, that look they gave you pops back up like it just happened. And suddenly, your heart’s not just bruised… it’s bitter.

Yep. Been there. Sat in it. Decorated the room.

“Not forgiving someone is like drinking poison and waiting for them to die.”
– Unknown, but painfully accurate

And what’s wild is—we’ll carry that pain around for years, praying for peace, crying for healing, asking God to help us move forward…
all while dragging around a backpack full of stuff He never meant for us to carry.

In this week’s episode of Unscripted Conversations, we’re talking about one of the hardest, holiest acts of surrender:

Let go and let God forgiveness.

What Forgiveness Is NOT

You’ve heard it all:

• “Forgive and forget.”
• “Time heals all wounds.”
• “Let go and let God.”

But friend… that’s not how healing works.

Forgiveness isn’t pretending it didn’t hurt.
It’s not excusing what they did.
It’s not blindly giving access back to someone who broke trust.

Forgiveness is about choosing freedom over bitterness.

What Forgiveness Is

Forgiveness is surrender.
It’s handing the offense over to God and saying, “I trust You to deal with this better than I ever could.”
It’s not about fairness — it’s about freedom.
It’s not about saying what happened was okay — it’s about saying you’re done letting it rule your life.
Forgiveness is obedience, not a feeling.
It doesn’t always come with closure.
It doesn’t always come with reconciliation.
But it does come with peace.

“Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.”
— Colossians 3:13 NLT

That verse? It’s not a soft suggestion. It’s a holy calling.
And it’s not because they deserve it…
but because you deserve to be free.

Let Go and Let God Forgiveness

Here’s the hard truth:
We ask God to forgive us constantly.

• “Forgive me for that thought.”
• “Forgive me for my words.”
• “Forgive me for doubting You again.”

And every single time—He does.

But how can we ask for His mercy while withholding it from others?

Let go and let God forgiveness means recognizing that we’ve been forgiven much… so we’re called to forgive much.
It’s not easy—but it’s necessary.

Forgiving Those Who Never Said Sorry

Some people?
They’ll never say sorry.

They won’t own it.
They won’t admit the damage.
And yet, you’re still the one carrying the hurt.

Letting go doesn’t let them off the hook.
It lets you off the leash.

That’s the power of let go and let God forgiveness—you release their grip on your heart even if they never make it right.

Forgiving Yourself

Now this? This is the part most people avoid.

We can forgive others.
But we still shame ourselves—sometimes for years.

You might say,

• “I should’ve known better.”
• “I ruined everything.”
• “God’s forgiven me—but I can’t.”

Let go and let God forgiveness has to start in the mirror.

That mistake? It’s not who you are.
Disqualified? Not even close.
God already called you forgiven—walk in it.

Now walk like it.

What If You’re Disappointed in God?

We don’t like to admit it…
But sometimes we’re mad at God and don’t know how to say it.

The prayer wasn’t answered the way we hoped.
The pain wasn’t stopped when we begged.
And sometimes, He didn’t show up the way we thought He should.

Just like Mary told Jesus,
“If You had been here, my brother wouldn’t have died.”

Jesus didn’t correct her.

He wept with her.

He knew resurrection was coming—and He still stopped to honor her tears.

That’s the kind of God you’re surrendering to.

Let go and let God forgiveness includes laying down your disappointment and choosing trust—even when you don’t understand.

Moving Forward Lighter

Forgiveness is possible—even when it feels impossible.
There is real freedom in releasing the weight.
Life gets lighter when you stop carrying what isn’t yours.

Jesus said in Matthew 11:28-30 (NLT):
“Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.”

Letting go isn’t saying, “It didn’t matter.”
It’s saying, “It doesn’t get to keep me stuck.”

Listen to the Full Episode

🎧 Catch the full message in Episode 10 of Unscripted Conversations: Let Go and Let God

It’s the kind of episode that’ll make you laugh, hit your heart, and start the healing you didn’t know you needed.

If you missed last week’s episode, God Shines Through the Broken, it’s a perfect lead-in to this conversation. Go give it a listen—it’ll prepare your heart for this one.

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Because let’s be honest — we’ve all had moments where forgiveness felt impossible… but God still made a way. 💛

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