The Art of Letting Go.

Hi guys!!! It's a new dawn, it's a new day, it's a new life, for meeeee, and I'm feeellliiinngg goooooooooooooooooooooodddddddddddddd.

Anyways guys, today's topic is a hard one (not necessarily for me, but for those that have struggled or are still struggling with bitterness and letting go of anger).

I was talking to a friend of mine about a time when I got really angry. I'd finished work one night and had paid for a public transport ride to the house, but my ride broke down, so the driver asked me to come down and paid another public transport provider to take me to my destination.

The new driver moved forward and after driving for a few minutes stopped and asked me to get out. He said he wasn't taking me any further because the previous driver didn't give him enough money for me. He said I should either pay more or get out. Baring in mind that it was very late and very very dark that night. I'd paid the right amount for the fare and I was tired.

I felt so upset and I didn't think it was fair for me to have to pay more when I'd paid the right amount of fare. The man parked and refused to move forward even though he was still going to have to drive past my destination, so he kicked me out. As a matter of principle, I refused to pay any more to him because he'd gotten the correct amount of fare and I really don't like cheats and injustice.

I eventually got out of the ride, it was very dark and I was a little scared so I felt really really angry. I mean, I didn't do anything wrong and he left me in a random place where I couldn't easily get another ride. Did I forget to mention that it was also raining that night. The urge to curse him or just ask God to judge him was so strong, but something told me to bless him instead.

So, in the throes of my burning anger, I asked God to bless him. It was one of the most difficult things I'd ever done (not the most, just one of them). Praying for him was painful, but I did it and I prayed some more until my heart let him go.

I'm aware that what this man did is small in the grand scheme of what people have done to you. I can only imagine the source of your bitterness or anger, but I promise you that it is better to let go, than to hold it in.

The thing about anger and bitterness is that the feeling doesn't affect the person you're harboring the animosity against. Instead, you're the one who suffers the consequences of your anger and bitterness. Anger and bitterness have a way of overwhelming you and taking over your thoughts. They steal your joy when you should be elated and peaceful.

It's hard for goodness, peace, joy, victory, and love to truly dwell in a heart of bitterness and fury. Anger and bitterness can also poison your body and cause illnesses.

So how do we let it go?

Please believe me when I say that I am very aware that it's not easy to let anger or bitterness go. In fact, I know your anger and bitterness are most times justified and very much warranted. But it doesn't help you and neither does it hurt the person who has caused the anger or bitterness. So there's really no reason to keep it.

If all your anger and bitterness does is keep you feeling the pain and the ugly emotions, you're literally letting the other person win. You're allowing their actions to have a longer-lasting effect on you. Isn't the pain and damage they've caused enough? Must we give them more? I personally don't think so. In letting go, you take your power back from them.

Letting go doesn't mean that things return to the way they used to be. Instead, it means you've taken your lessons from that situation, whatever it may be and you move on. This doesn't mean you have to give the person the chance to do it again and again. Wisdom is always profitable when directed. So depending on the situation, after letting go, you can decide if you'll give grace to the person by letting them back into your space and heart, or if you'll keep your distance from them.

In my short time on this heart, I've found that the best way to let anger and bitterness go, is to pray for the person causing the pain and anger. The more you pray for them, the more your heart starts to release them. Praying for them won't be easy (not even). It will take a lot of willpower and determination to pray for the person or people who have hurt you, but I've found that the more you bless them, the more your heart releases them. In praying for them continuously, your heart must wish them well.

You'll find that eventually, the prayers will become genuine and that they will be released from your heart. It takes a lot of practice, but I'm not gonna lie it's the Holy Spirit that makes it easier.

The day I prayed for that man, I literally had to ask the Holy Spirit to help me. Because I knew that it wasn't God's desire for me to curse anyone. As a Christian, I'm called to love, but it's hard to love when you're full of bitterness and anger.

I promise you, I'm not trying to diminish your pain, anger, or hurts. I just want the best for you and I've come to realise that carrying these emotions around cause more injury to you, than the person who caused them.

As always, I love you, and most importantly, God loves you.

Love,

Esther xoxo