Due to the predicted drifting snow and wind, I postposed a planning meeting with the worship team. We would meet a week later but still have time to get worship details organized for the upcoming season. The forecast foretold of difficult driving and no one wanted to be out on the roads.
Guess what? The storm never really materialized, and we could have held the meeting and gotten our work done.
I bemoaned this fact several times to my hubby. He kindly remined me, “Don’t keep second guessing yourself. Let it go.”
Don’t keep second guessing myself. Yes, that is a good thing to release not just for this event but onward. Too often I let this old habit of rehashing and overthinking take over my mind and sometimes ruin a day.
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith.” (Hebrews 12:1–2, NLT)
What are you letting go of in 2026? Letting go creates space for God, for good thoughts, for peace instead of spinning and worrying over something I cannot change or control. When I pause and reflect, I see some old habits that weigh me down and no longer are life-giving. I understand then that letting go isn’t the end—it’s opening to the possibility of something new.
What a good journaling and prayer prompt!! So I listened for the Spirit’s voice and my own deep inner voice about what else to let go of in 2026. Here is what emerged:
- Stop second guessing. Reflect and move on
- Release the urge to control
- Expectations – too often I focus on what I think should be happening or my desire to know the future and what will happen instead of the gift of the present moment
- Negative self-talk – be kinder to myself
- Rushing through tasks, reading, and life in general. Slow down and savor what is before me.
- Giving up too quickly.
I reread this poem last week by Mary Oliver called “Storage.”
When I moved from one house to another
there were many things I had no room for.
What does one do? I rented a storage space.
And filled it. Years passed.
Occasionally I went there and looked in,
but nothing happened, not a single twinge of the heart.
As I grew older the things I cared about grew fewer, but were more important.
So one day I undid the lock and called the trash man.
He took everything.
I felt like the little donkey when his burden is finally lifted.
Things! Burn them, burn them!
Make a beautiful fire!
More room in your heart for love, for the trees!
For the birds who own nothing—the reason they can fly.
The spiritual practice of reflecting what to let go of and naming them creates space for God to enter in and make a spacious home within me. This leads to a deeper sense of freedom full of the Spirit’s light.
What will you let go of in 2026?
Oh gosh, there’s so much I continue to need to let go of, Jean. So much I can’t rescue, fix, save, or manuever. Still learning to trust God with it ALL!
He certainly is able.
Linda, I think it is a life long practice and one I know I have to keep relearning – let go and Trust! sounds easy but our human ego likes to cling….