By Dashonia Marie
As the seasons change, I feel the undeniable stir of God doing a new thing in my life and in the lives of His people. The air is crisp with possibility, and the winds carry whispers of His promise: “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?” (Isaiah 43:18-19, NIV).
This is not just a seasonal shift in the natural world; it’s a spiritual awakening. God is calling us to let go of our past, to release the things—and even people—that no longer serve His purpose in our lives. Why? Because we cannot fully grasp the new blessings He has in store if our hands are still clutching the remnants of yesterday.
The Chains of the Past
For years, I held on to pain, shame, and regret like a familiar blanket. Addiction, loss, and trauma became my identity, chaining me to cycles of destruction and self-doubt. But the Lord whispered gently to my spirit, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). It was in that surrender that I began to see the beauty of His promise to make all things new.
Dwelling in the past is like walking through life with a rearview mirror. You miss the beauty of the present and the hope of the future because your eyes are fixed on what’s behind you. But God is not the God of stagnation. He is the God of forward movement, of transformation.
Letting Go for God’s Glory
Letting go is never easy. It requires trust—an unwavering belief that what God has ahead is far better than anything we leave behind. Consider the story of Lot’s wife. She couldn’t help but look back, clinging to her past even as God was rescuing her from destruction. That one glance cost her everything (Genesis 19:26).
God is calling us to something greater. He is calling us to leave behind the baggage of bitterness, unforgiveness, and fear. He’s asking us to release the relationships that drain rather than edify, the habits that hinder rather than heal. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” (2 Corinthians 5:17).
We cannot expect to experience the fullness of God while dragging the weight of past hurts. Our healing and growth depend on our ability to trust His plan, even when it’s painful, even when it requires walking away from what we thought we needed.
The Promise of Something New
This season, I encourage you to pause and ask: What is God asking me to release? What old habits, mindsets, or relationships am I clinging to? Trust that His pruning process is for your good. Just as a gardener prunes a tree to ensure greater growth, God is cutting away the dead branches in your life so that new, vibrant fruit can flourish.
Ecclesiastes 3:1 reminds us, “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.” This is your season to step boldly into the new. Your past may have shaped you, but it does not define you. Your identity is rooted in Christ, and He is doing a work in you that will not only transform your life but also bring glory to His name.
Walking Forward in Faith
To walk in the newness of life requires faith. It means silencing the doubts, pushing through the discomfort, and embracing the unknown with confidence in God’s perfect will. Philippians 3:13-14 says it best: “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.”
The journey may not be easy, but it is worth it. Each step of obedience brings you closer to the abundant life God has promised. So, let go of the old. Release the hurt, the failures, the toxic ties. Make room for the new blessings, opportunities, and relationships God is ready to pour into your life.
This is your season of transformation. Walk boldly into it, knowing that the God who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion (Philippians 1:6). He is doing a new thing. Can you feel it?
Let’s let go and make room for the new.
