Let Go and Let God | Steps to Forgiveness | Jabin Chavez | City Light Church
Forgiveness isn’t always easy. When someone hurts us, the pain can stick around long after the moment has passed. Sometimes, it feels safer to hold on to anger than to take the first step toward healing. But as we step into spring, there’s no better time to clear out old pain and open the door to peace.
Letting go and letting God doesn’t mean ignoring what happened or pretending everything is fine. It's about choosing not to carry the weight alone. Inspired by a message from Pastor Jabin Chavez, we’re reflecting on what forgiveness really looks like and how trusting God through it all can help us start fresh. When we make space for healing, God can do something new, even when we cannot see it yet. If you're looking for a Christian church in Las Vegas where these kinds of talks spark honest growth, you're not alone in wanting that space.
What It Means to Let Go and Let God
Forgiving someone can feel like giving up control, and that can be scary. But holding on to the pain doesn’t fix the past. It just keeps us stuck in it.
Letting go means:
Trusting God even when we do not understand what He is doing
Believing good can come from something even when it still hurts
Releasing control of the “why” or the “how” and choosing to move forward
When we stop holding on so tightly, whether to anger, fear, or answers we may never get, we make room for God to work. That doesn’t mean the pain goes away overnight. But it does mean we are not trying to fix everything alone. Trusting Him does not make us weak. It reminds us that we were never meant to carry it all by ourselves. The Sunday gatherings at City Light Church offer a supportive environment where people come together seeking hope, belonging, and practical help for real-life struggles.
The First Step: Be Honest About the Hurt
We cannot move forward until we face what’s behind us. Pretending something does not hurt only pushes the real healing further away.
Being honest about the pain means:
Admitting when something shook us, confused us, or broke our trust
Saying what happened out loud, even if it is just in prayer or a quiet moment
Coming to God with real questions and real feelings
God can handle all of it. He is not surprised by our anger. He is not turned away by our tears. Spring in Las Vegas means brighter days and warmer air. Maybe it is time we let some light into the hard places inside us too.
Choose to Forgive, Even If It Feels Hard
The truth is, forgiveness doesn’t always feel right in the moment. It might feel like we’re letting someone off too easy. But forgiveness doesn’t mean we pretend it never happened.
Forgiveness means:
Choosing to release what we cannot change
Letting go of the need for payback or perfect words
Trusting that God can work on hearts, including ours
The choice to forgive might need to be made more than once. Some days are harder than others. But each time we choose to let go, we take a step toward peace. And when it feels like we do not have the strength to forgive again, we can ask God for help. He understands, and He’s already there.
Letting God Change Your Heart
Sometimes we expect forgiveness to be a fast fix. But often it is a slow process of turning our heart in a new direction. Healing comes as we keep inviting God into the hard spots we would rather forget.
Ways God helps shift our hearts:
Giving us grace to pray for the person who hurt us (even if we do not want to at first)
Reminding us that He has not wasted our pain
Bringing calm when we keep bringing our hurt back to Him
It is okay if you’re not ready today. But be open. Keep showing up. Healing does not follow a calendar. Some pain takes time. But when we keep leaning in, little by little, our hearts begin to change. God fills in the cracks with things like grace, joy, and peace we did not think were possible.
Finding Freedom Through Forgiveness
Forgiveness isn’t about ignoring what happened. It’s about giving it to God and walking forward. When we let go, we create space for something better. And when we let God guide that process, healing gets a chance to begin.
The truth is, we do not have to do it all at once. But when we choose forgiveness, one decision, one prayer, one honest day at a time, we open our hands to peace. For ourselves and for others too. As we leave winter behind and step into spring, maybe now is the time to release what’s been weighing us down. We are not stuck. We are growing. And we do not have to do it alone.
At City Light Church, we believe in the power of healing and community. As you navigate the journey of forgiveness, finding the right support can make all the difference. Join a Christian church in Las Vegas that welcomes honest conversations and real growth in a warm, supportive environment. We invite you to connect with us and discover how faith and fellowship can help lighten your burdens and deepen your spiritual journey.