You Just Gotta Let It Go!

As I look back over my years, I can see times when I allowed what others said or did to me to have a negative impact upon my life and attitude.  I know a time when I truly suffered through a hurtful time in ministry when I felt all alone and so betrayed. During that time, I allowed myself to become bitter and I develop a hatred in my heart toward some people. It took me several years to get over it. Looking back, I realize the only one who suffered during that time was me. Those who hurt me went on with their lives.

What I allowed to happen, should never have happened. I should have turned it all over to GOD, left it with Him, and went on with my life. Things sure would’ve been better for me during that time. Although I may be a bit slow at learning things, I came to realize that GOD can even work through those hurtful times to fulfill His plan and purpose in one’s life.

As I sit thinking about all this, I am reminded of Joseph. His brothers sold him into slavery. He was betrayed by his owner’s wife. He was sent to prison. Yet, through all this, he remained faithful to GOD. He continued using the gifts GOD had given him for GOD’s glory. Certainly, he could have become very bitter and remorseful for all the bad things done to him and towards GOD for allowing such things to happen to him. But he didn’t. He simply trusted GOD in and through it all. Let’s pick up where he revealed himself to his brothers, found in Genesis 45: “Joseph said to his brothers, ‘I am Joseph! Is my father still living?’ But his brothers were too terrified to answer him. Then Joseph said to his brothers, ‘Please, come near me,’ and they came near. ‘I am Joseph, your brother,’ he said, ‘the one you sold into Egypt. And now don’t be worried or angry with yourselves for selling me here, because God sent me ahead of you to preserve life.'” (Genesis 45:3-5).

Now he certainly could have gotten even. He could’ve had them all imprisoned or killed. But he didn’t. He pardoned them and let them go because he knew GOD was in control of his life as he said: “God sent me ahead of you to preserve life.”

As children of GOD, we are commissioned with preserving life through our testimony and witness of the saving power of Jesus Christ. When we allow bitterness or attitudes or laziness or anything else to get in the way of our mission in life, we become ineffective and others whose lives we were intended to impact suffer because of it. Through the hurt, through the pain, you just gotta let it go, and let GOD deal with it!