Healing Starts with Surrender
Anger can feel like a heavy burden to carry, and for some of us, it’s something we’ve been holding onto for so long that it feels impossible to let go. It’s easy to lash out when we’re hurting, to snap at others or respond in ways that feel justified because of all the pain we’ve experienced. But God doesn’t want us living like this. He doesn’t want us holding onto our anger, letting it control how we respond to others and even how we live our lives.
I get it. When you’ve been hurt—whether by people in your past, situations that were beyond your control, or things that have been done to you—anger feels like the only way to protect yourself. It’s easy to think that holding onto that anger is keeping you safe, but in reality, it’s only keeping you stuck. The truth is, anger, bitterness, and resentment keep us from healing. They push people away, they strain relationships, and they leave us feeling isolated. But God didn’t create us to live with that kind of weight.
When Wounds Don’t Heal
For so many of us, the anger we carry is tied to wounds we haven’t allowed God to heal. Maybe it’s from your childhood, or a past relationship, or something someone did to you that still stings. And here’s the hard part: sometimes, we don’t want to let go of that anger. We tell God, “Lord, heal this area in my life,” but deep down, we’re still holding onto the pain, still holding onto the victim role because it feels familiar. We don’t know who we are without that anger. But living like this isn’t what God wants for us. It’s not what He intended for our lives.
It may be hard to hear, but here’s the truth: until we’re ready to surrender that pain—whether it’s anger, bitterness, or unresolved trauma—God can’t fully heal us. And we can’t move forward in the way He’s calling us to if we’re still living in the past. Holding onto hurt and anger only keeps us stuck in a cycle of self-doubt, frustration, and loneliness.
The Power of Surrender
The good news is that healing is possible. It starts with surrender. Surrendering that anger, surrendering the wounds we’ve carried for so long, and saying, “Lord, I can’t carry this anymore. Please heal me.” That’s where the freedom starts, when we stop trying to do it on our own and allow God to heal us from the inside out.
I know it’s hard. I know it’s painful. But the truth is, we weren’t meant to carry that kind of weight. Jesus came to heal us, to help us let go of our anger, hurt, and resentment so we can walk in peace, grace, and love. When we allow Him to heal our hearts, we experience freedom in ways we never imagined possible.
Anger Pushes People Away
It’s easy to think that keeping our anger to ourselves is just a personal issue, but the truth is, anger pushes people away. It creates walls between us and the people we love, and it keeps us from being able to fully connect with others. No one wants to be around someone who’s constantly angry or bitter—it’s exhausting. And it doesn’t just affect our relationships; it can impact our work, our health, and our mental well-being.
When we hold onto anger, we’re letting it control our actions and our responses. But God wants to help us let go of that control and experience His peace. When we surrender that anger, we free ourselves from the chains it has over us. And in return, we open ourselves up to healing, growth, and deeper relationships.
Living the Way God Intended
I know it’s not easy. Trust me, I’ve had my fair share of moments where I didn’t want to let go of the hurt. But here’s what I’ve learned: holding onto anger only keeps us stuck. We have to choose healing over bitterness, peace over anger, forgiveness over resentment. And when we do that, we step into the life God is calling us to—the life He intended for us to live.
Ephesians 4:31-32 reminds us, “Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”
It’s not about pretending the hurt didn’t happen or minimizing what we’ve been through. It’s about allowing God to heal those wounds so that we can live in freedom, peace, and love. It’s about trusting that He has a better plan for us than holding onto anger.
How to Surrender and Heal
So, how do we begin? First, we have to be honest with God. We have to come before Him with our hurt, our anger, our bitterness, and say, “Lord, I need You to heal this area of my life. I can’t do it on my own.”
Then, we need to trust Him to do the work. Sometimes, healing takes time. It’s a process. But the more we surrender and allow God to move in our hearts, the more we experience, His peace. The more we choose forgiveness over bitterness, grace over anger, the more we start to see healing take place.
Lord, I know that I’ve been holding onto anger and hurt that I need to surrender to You. I’ve let it control my responses and my relationships, and I no longer want to carry that burden. Please heal the wounds in my heart that I’ve been holding onto. Help me to release my anger, my bitterness, and my past hurt to You. Fill me with Your peace, and guide me toward forgiveness. Thank You for Your love, Your grace, and Your healing. In Jesus' name, Amen.
