From Pain 2 Purpose: Begin to Process Loss and Forge AheadSample

The Incremental Process of Letting Go and Holding On (Part 3)

There may be a part of you that thinks, I’m definitely going to need some help with this process of holding on and letting go. I’ll need someone to be my guide. We can be grateful that we have a Savior who has walked this journey himself. Remember, Christ let go of his exalted place in heaven and held on to his promise to redeem man. He let go of the temptation he experienced in the wilderness and the aloneness he experienced in the garden and held on to the comfort he received from the Father. He let go of any temptation to become angry and bitter toward his accusers and held on to the belief that God’s revealed plan for the future would produce ultimate joy (Hebrews 12:2).

Doesn’t it strengthen your confidence to know that Jesus has already walked the path you are now treading? Scripture says that Jesus is our teacher. We are his students. The more time we spend with Jesus, the more we’ll become like him (Luke 6:40).

As we courageously begin to let go—and repeatedly let go—of the things that keep us stuck in our pain, we can miraculously begin to find healing for a broken heart by holding on to comfort for past losses. The term past losses means other losses in the past that may leave a lingering trail of pain because we have failed to resolve them. We can begin to experience spiritual strength, a renewed sense of wholeness, and emotional peace of mind as we hold on to God’s promises in the present. And as we continue to choose to let go, we can experience a renewed sense of purpose as we hold on to God’s revealed plan for our future.

Another way to state this progression toward wholeness is: as we learn to process our grief in a productive way, we will be free to take hold of healing comfort from God and others for past losses, claim God’s promises to address our present grief, and embrace God’s plan for our future healing. This progressive journey in tandem with God will empower us to move forward in life to our new normal.

We are not giving you a rigid prescription or a regimented formula to follow. We are not even suggesting that you make your choices to let go in a certain order of the elements that impede healing. Start with what seems uppermost in your mind, whether it’s fear, regret, anger, or some other impediment. The important thing is to keep the process ongoing. Keep repeating your choices until they lead you into your new reality—a new way of thinking and living as you continue to choose to let go of the old and hold on to the new.

Stop now and reflect on the promise of God’s comfort for your past losses (2 Corinthians 1:3–4). As you are able to hold on to God’s comfort, what might healing look like for you?

As you are able to hold on to God’s promises in the present, what would an experience of spiritual strength, a renewed sense of wholeness, or emotional peace of mind look like for you (2 Peter 1:3–4)?

And as you learn to hold on to God’s revealed plan for your future what might a renewed sense of purpose look like for you (Jeremiah 29:11)?

Lord, I am claiming that the promises from your Word will be real in my life. I say, “Yes” to your promise of…

Learn more about the Mullett’s path to recovery, continue on your journey, and let the hope of God’s promises unlock a renewed sense of purpose for your life and future with From Pain 2 Purpose: Rediscovering Joy after Suffering a Major Loss by Duane and Cindy Mullett with Dr. David Ferguson. Learn more at https://bit.ly/FromPain2PurposeBook.