There’s a strange kind of peace that comes when you finally stop gripping life so tightly. We spend so much time trying to hold it all together—trying to control what happens next, to fix what’s already happened, and to make sure everyone approves of how we’re doing it. But maybe freedom isn’t found in control. Maybe it’s found in letting go.
Let’s start with the fear of the future. It’s easy to get caught up worrying about what’s next—our careers, our relationships, our finances, our health. But Jesus reminds us in Matthew 6:34 not to worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow will worry about itself. When we live in fear of what’s coming, we miss the beauty of what’s here. The truth is, we were never meant to carry the weight of the future. Faith doesn’t eliminate uncertainty—it just makes it less scary.
Then there’s that desire to control. We plan, we predict, we manipulate outcomes in the name of being “prepared.” But Jeremiah 29:11 reminds us that God already has a plan—one meant for our good, not harm. Control is an illusion that exhausts us. When we let go, we make room for something better: trust.
And oh, the approval of others. That one can quietly rule your life without you even noticing. Galatians 1:10 asks, “Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God?” The need to please everyone keeps you from becoming who you were created to be. Letting go doesn’t mean you stop caring—it means you stop needing permission to be yourself.
The pain of regret is another heavy one. We replay mistakes like broken records, hoping somehow the past will change if we feel bad enough. But 1 John 1:9 reminds us that if we confess, we’re forgiven—completely. You don’t have to keep living as if your failures define you. God’s grace does.
And finally, the shame from your past. This one cuts deep because it lingers long after the moment is over. But 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “If anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: the old has gone, the new is here!” You are not who you were. The moment you accept that truth, shame loses its grip.
Here’s the thing: letting go isn’t about pretending you don’t care. It’s about choosing peace over pressure, trust over control, and grace over guilt. Life becomes lighter when you stop carrying what was never yours to hold in the first place.
So breathe. Surrender the future. Stop chasing approval. Forgive the past. And let God write the story He’s already begun in you. Because sometimes, the greatest act of faith isn’t holding on—it’s letting go.
Kenrick Vaz 