I want to be completely honest and transparent. I mean… I always am… but this time it hits a little different. I have a confession…
There are still days I miss who I used to be.
Not the pain. Not the mistakes.
But the familiarity of that life.
The people. The moments. The version of me that existed before everything changed. I wrote a blog post a couple of years ago and it was titled “I’ll Never Be Her Again” - And - I meant every word - But - It doesn’t mean I don’t miss her sometimes.
There’s a strange kind of comfort in looking back… even when you know you can’t go back.
And that’s the hardest part:
Realizing you can’t live there anymore.
Moving forward with God sounds beautiful… until it requires you to release what once felt like home.
I’ve been reading this amazing book titled “Pathway to Purpose” and this last chapter talks about surrender. It opened my eyes to so many things that I have not let go of from my past.
Sometimes the past calls to you:
Through memories that feel sweeter than they actually were
Through moments you wish you could relive
Through versions of yourself you don’t fully recognize anymore
And if you’re not careful, you’ll start to romanticize a season God already brought you out of. Think about Lot’s wife.
But here’s the truth I had to face:
You can miss it… and still need to let it go.
God doesn’t pull us forward to punish us.
He leads us forward to grow us. And yes, that growth can come with growing pains.
Growth requires release.
You can’t fully step into what God has next while holding onto what He already asked you to leave behind.
“Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old.” – Isaiah 43:18
That scripture used to feel harsh to me… until I realized it wasn’t about forgetting—it was about freedom. Doesn't freedom from your past sound amazing?
God knows that constantly looking back will keep you stuck between who you were and who you’re becoming.
Letting go of the past isn’t just a decision—it’s a process. And this timeline moves as fast or as slow as you navigate it.
Because sometimes you’re not just releasing pain…
You’re grieving:
Old relationships
Old routines
Old versions of yourself
And that grief is real.
You can love who you were… and still acknowledge that you can’t stay there.
You can appreciate that season… and still accept that it’s over.
Letting go hasn’t been one big moment—it’s been small, quiet choices:
Choosing not to replay memories that pull me backward
Choosing to trust God even when the future feels unfamiliar
Choosing to believe that what’s ahead is better than what’s behind (This has been the hardest)
And some days?
I still feel the pull.
But I remind myself:
If God closed that chapter, there’s purpose in the next one.
Here’s what I’m learning in this season:
The life ahead of you may feel uncertain…
But it’s not empty.
God is not asking you to let go just to leave you with nothing. He’s asking you to let go so He can give you something new. And sometimes we fear the unknown and that can keep us from taking the next step forward… But God says “Do not fear”.
We are looking ahead to:
New growth.
New peace.
New purpose.
And none of that is scary… it’s encouraging.
But you have to be willing to release your grip on what was.
If you’ve been feeling that pull to go back…
This is your gentle reminder:
You’re not meant to live in a place God already brought you through.
You can honor your past…
You can learn from it…
You can even miss it…
But you can’t build your life there anymore.
There is more waiting for you.
And it’s worth moving forward for.
If this spoke to your heart, share it with someone who may be struggling to let go.And follow Living Well with Amy for more faith-filled encouragement on healing, growth, and moving forward with God 💛 God bless you.
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