Let it Go

We’ve all seen the movie, heard the song, bought the stuff, right? While I don’t necessarily endorse all the lyrics to this catchy tune, there is something about the title that rings true, especially in the context of 1 Corinthians 13.

Oh yes, you read that correctly.

Let’s take a look.

Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (NLT)

Note the phrase I emphasized: “it (love) keeps no record of being wronged”. Does that not mean to let it go when someone offends you? To let it go when you feel you’ve been wronged? And I mean really let it go so that the offense doesn’t even appear in the little tally book we all have a tendency to keep with a rather disturbing measure of detail.

Oh-oh. I think I’ve stepped on some toes because I can hear a whole lot of “but you don’t know what they did to me” voices.

You’re right, I don’t know your story. But I’ve had a good number of my own experiences to know that it is possible for love to keep no record of wrong. Even when it seems that the pain is too great to let go.

Especially then.

The last sentence in the passage above says, “love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance”. I want people in my life who love me like that. And I want to be the person who loves others like that. So how can I even consider holding a grievance against someone else and have that be the very thing that prevents me – and the other person – from living in true freedom in Christ?

I’m not telling you that I have it all figured out. No-sir-ee. But I think I’m listening more closely to what God is saying to me and becoming a little bit more obedient every day. Sometimes that means having to deal with uncomfortable situations and difficult conversations.

There is such joy, though, when I come away from those experiences with peace in my heart knowing that with the Lord’s help, I really have let it go.

Try it.

You can even hum the song, if you want.