26 Bible Verses About Letting Go
Discover biblical insights on releasing burdens, embracing change, and finding peace through trust and forgiveness.
Discover biblical insights on releasing burdens, embracing change, and finding peace through trust and forgiveness.
Letting go—two simple words that can feel like moving mountains. Whether it’s releasing past hurts, relinquishing control, or simply trusting the unknown, the act of letting go is often easier said than done. Yet, it’s a journey we all must embark on at some point. The good news? We don’t have to navigate this path alone.
The Bible, with its timeless wisdom, offers profound insights into the art of letting go. It reminds us that releasing our grip on the things we cannot change opens us up to the peace and freedom that God intends for us. It’s about making space for new beginnings and trusting that there’s a greater plan at work.
In this article, we’ll explore 26 Bible verses that illuminate the path to letting go. These verses serve as gentle reminders that while the process may be challenging, the rewards are immeasurable. So, take a deep breath, and let’s dive into the comforting and liberating truths that Scripture has to offer.
Verses About Forgiveness
Verses About Trusting God
Verses About Letting Go of the Past
Verses About Releasing Control
Verses About Embracing Change
Forgiveness is a powerful act that frees both the giver and the receiver. It’s about releasing the hold that past wrongs have on your heart. When Joseph forgave his brothers for selling him into slavery, he let go of bitterness and embraced reconciliation. This act of letting go allowed healing and restoration to flourish, showing us the transformative power of forgiveness.
Matthew 6:14–15: “For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.”
Colossians 3:13: “Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.”
Mark 11:25: “And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.”
Luke 6:37: “Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.”
Ephesians 4:31–32: “Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”
Trusting God involves surrendering our worries and fears, knowing that a divine plan is at work. When the Israelites faced the Red Sea with the Egyptian army closing in, they had to trust in divine guidance. This trust led to a miraculous path through the sea, illustrating how letting go of our own understanding can open the way for divine intervention.
Proverbs 3:5–6: “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”
Psalm 55:22: “Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken.”
1 Peter 5:7: “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”
Matthew 11:28–30: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Isaiah 26:3–4: “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you. Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD, the LORD himself, is the Rock eternal.”
Philippians 4:6–7: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Letting go of the past means not allowing previous experiences to dictate your present or future. The story of Paul, once a persecutor of Christians, shows how releasing past identities and mistakes can lead to a renewed purpose. By moving beyond his former life, Paul became a pivotal figure in spreading the message of hope and redemption.
Isaiah 43:18–19: “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.”
Philippians 3:13–14: “Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”
2 Corinthians 5:17: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”
Luke 9:62: “Jesus replied, ‘No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.'”
Hebrews 12:1: “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.”
Releasing control is about acknowledging that not everything is within our grasp to manage. It’s about finding peace in the uncertainty and trusting that things will unfold as they should. This mindset can be seen in the way Jesus taught his disciples to pray, emphasizing reliance on divine provision rather than personal control.
Proverbs 16:9: “In their hearts humans plan their course, but the LORD establishes their steps.”
James 4:13–15: “Now listen, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.’ Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, ‘If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.'”
Psalm 46:10: “He says, ‘Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.'”
Matthew 6:34: “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
Jeremiah 29:11: “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
Embracing change is an invitation to step into the unknown with faith and courage. The journey of Abraham, who left his homeland for a promise yet unseen, exemplifies this. By letting go of the familiar and stepping into a new path, he became the father of many nations, showing how change can lead to growth and fulfillment.
Ecclesiastes 3:1: “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.”
Romans 8:28: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”
2 Corinthians 4:16–18: “Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”
Isaiah 41:10: “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
Psalm 37:5: “Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this.”