Joseph is the Bible’s great example. His brothers sold him into slavery, and he spent years in prison for a crime he didn’t commit. When he finally had the power to pay them back, he wept and released them instead: “Ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good.” He didn’t pretend it hadn’t happened. He let God have the final word on it.
Historical Context
Letting go doesn’t mean what happened was okay, or that you have to trust someone who hurt you. It means you stop letting it control you.
A Prayer of Release
Lord, I’ve been holding on to this for too long.
I release it to you now:
the hurt I carry from (name or situation),
the anger I’ve nursed,
the guilt you’ve already forgiven,
and the worry about things I can’t control.
I open my hands.
Take it, and give me your peace in its place.
Amen.
Releasing Someone Who Hurt Me
Lord, I release (name) to you.
I won’t be their judge. You are.
Free me from the chain that ties me to what they did.
Amen.
Releasing Control
Lord, I keep trying to steer everything.
I release my grip on the outcome. Your will be done.
Amen.
Best Times for This Prayer
- When an old hurt resurfaces.
- At night, before sleep.
- At the end of a relationship or a chapter of life.
Scripture Connection
“But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.” — Genesis 50:20
Joseph could release his brothers because he trusted God had been at work all along. Release is easier when you believe God can bring good out of what hurt you.
Related prayers
For more on letting go, see the Prayer of Surrender, the Welcoming Prayer and the Prayer for a Breakup.