Some chapters are full of joy and laughter, but others carry the weight of pain, regret, or fear. And sometimes, if we’re honest, we cling to those old seasons, not because they were good, but because they were familiar.
The unknown can feel scarier than what we’ve already survived.
That’s why the story of the Israelites hits so close to home. God had miraculously rescued them from slavery in Egypt, yet their hearts kept wandering back. Egypt had been harsh and cruel, but it was predictable. And predictable often feels safer than trusting God with a future we can’t yet see.
But staying stuck in the past keeps us from stepping into the life God has promised. He calls us to lay it down, move forward, and trust Him, one step at a time.
So, let’s talk about your Egypt.
When Looking Back Feels Safer
In Exodus 16, just weeks after leaving Egypt, the Israelites began to complain:
“The whole congregation of Bnei-Yisrael murmured against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness.” — Exodus 16:2 (TLV)
Their words reveal so much about the human heart:
“If only we had died by the Lord’s hand in Egypt! There we sat around pots of meat and ate all the food we wanted, but you have brought us out into this desert to starve this entire assembly to death.” — Exodus 16:3 (TLV)
Fear and hunger made slavery seem better than the uncertainty of freedom.
But here’s what they missed: while they were grumbling, God was preparing manna from heaven. He was leading them to a land overflowing with promise.
The past had blinded them to the miracle happening right in front of them.
Why Letting Go Is So Hard
The Israelites aren’t the only ones who struggle here.
We do the same thing when we:
Revisit old relationships because loneliness feels unbearable
Question our faith when life gets messy
Cling to habits or thought patterns because change feels too risky
The enemy loves to whisper that what’s behind us is safer than what’s ahead. That we should settle for familiar pain rather than trust God for unknown freedom.
But letting go doesn’t mean pretending the past never happened. It means surrendering it—the mistakes, the memories, the hurt—to the One who can redeem it all.
“Sink the Ships”
History tells of Hernán Cortés, who, after landing his army in Mexico, sank his own ships. Retreat wasn’t an option. Moving forward was the only way.
Some of us need to do the same with our past.
The “ships” in our lives—those old relationships, failures, or sins—become escape routes we run to when the present feels too hard. But if we keep those ships in the harbor, we’ll always be tempted to go back.
Sink the ships.
Close the door.
Trust the God who leads you forward.
Scriptures to Hold Onto
“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing!” — Isaiah 43:18-19
“For I know the plans I have for you… plans to give you a future and a hope.” — Jeremiah 29:11
“Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.” — Hebrews 12:1
“Therefore if anyone is in Messiah, he is a new creation; the old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” — 2 Corinthians 5:17
Practical Steps for Letting Go
Journal the journey
Write down the memories, fears, or regrets you struggle to release. Then find Scriptures that speak truth over each one.Take every thought captive
When old fears surface, stop them in their tracks. Replace them with God’s promises.Pray through the pain
Invite God into the places that still feel raw. Ask Him to heal and lead you forward.Seek wise counsel
Sometimes letting go requires help—a pastor, a mentor, or a trusted friend who can speak life over you.
A Question for Your Heart
What is your Egypt?
The habit you can’t seem to break?
The relationship you keep revisiting?
The fear that holds you hostage?
Whatever it is, God is calling you forward. He has manna for today and a promised land for tomorrow.
The Promise of Peace
Letting go isn’t easy. But peace lives on the other side of surrender.
When we release the past, we make space for the new thing God wants to do. The wilderness may feel uncertain, but it’s the pathway to promise.
So, take His hand. Trust His heart. And leave Egypt behind once and for all.
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