Shaking Off the Past: Learning to Let Go and Move Forward
Why Is Letting Go So Hard?
How many of us struggle with letting go? I know I do. Even when I think I’ve moved on from something, I still find my mind circling back to it, replaying conversations, decisions, or disappointments.
Recently, I told Joe that he needed to shake the dust off his feet and move on from a situation. He just looked at me, confused, not understanding what I meant.
We’ve both been involved in various boards and organizations, and we love serving our community. But when you’ve invested time, energy, and heart into something, it’s hard to step away—especially when you don’t agree with the direction things are going.
Letting go of control is difficult. Even when we physically step away from something, our minds and hearts often refuse to follow. Instead of truly moving on, we watch from the sidelines, second-guessing every decision and wondering if things would be different if only we were still there.
What Does It Mean to Shake the Dust Off Your Feet?
When I told Joe to shake the dust off his feet, I was referencing a passage from Matthew 10. It comes from Jesus’ instructions to His disciples as they went out to share the gospel.
Matthew 10:11-14 (NIV):
“Whatever town or village you enter, search there for some worthy person and stay at their house until you leave. As you enter the home, give it your greeting. If the home is deserving, let your peace rest on it; if it is not, let your peace return to you. If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, leave that home or town and shake the dust off your feet.”
Jesus was teaching His disciples an important lesson: not everyone will welcome you, listen to you, or agree with you—and that’s okay.
Shaking the dust off their feet was a symbolic way of saying, “I did what I was called to do. Now, I’m moving forward, leaving behind any rejection, negativity, or failure.”
Jesus wanted them to release the past completely—even the dust on their feet—so they could fully focus on what lay ahead.
What Are You Holding Onto?
We all have things we struggle to let go of:
- A friend’s hurtful words.
- A job opportunity that didn’t work out.
- A relationship that ended.
- A project we poured our heart into, only to see it take a different direction.
But holding onto these things doesn’t change the past—it only burdens our present and clouds our future.
Isaiah 43:18-19 (NIV):
“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.”
God calls us to move forward, trusting that He is doing something new—even when we don’t fully understand it yet.
Letting Go Doesn’t Mean You Failed
Sometimes, we hold on because we feel like letting go means we’ve failed. But Jesus Himself tells us there are times when we need to move on.
Letting go doesn’t mean:
You didn’t care.
Your efforts were wasted.
You should have tried harder.
Letting go does mean:
You trust God’s plan more than your own.
You believe His purpose is greater than any single situation.
You are making room for what’s ahead instead of dwelling on what’s behind.
Philippians 3:13-14 (NIV):
“But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”
Tonight, Shake the Dust Off Your Feet
Before you go to bed tonight, take a moment and physically shake off your feet. Imagine leaving behind the stress, disappointments, and worries you’ve been carrying.
Release the burden.
Let go of what didn’t go as planned.
Trust that God is leading you into something new.
1 Peter 5:7 (NIV):
“Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.”
To God Goes The Glory!
Have A Blessed Day!
Let’s End With a Prayer
Heavenly Father, I come before You with a heart that sometimes struggles to let go. You see the things I hold onto—past hurts, disappointments, and situations I wish had turned out differently. But, Lord, You have called me to shake the dust off my feet and move forward in faith. Help me to trust Your plan and embrace the new things You are doing in my life. Give me peace where I have felt anxious, and remind me that I am not meant to carry these burdens alone. I surrender the past to You and step forward in confidence, knowing You are leading the way. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Thank you for giving us not only clothing options to make us look great, but also words to live by…..AND recipes! I made your Dad’s chili….it is the best….it has been great for this cold stretch! My new “go to” chili recipe! Blessings to you!
THANK GOD FOR HIS WORD AND YOU AS HIS MESSENGER ALL PRAISES TO OUR SAVIOUR WHO MAKES OUR BURDENS LIGHT 🙏🙏🎊🌿🕊🙏🙏
Another great Sunday post! Thank you, Tania! You’re a blessing to me!
Tania – thank you so much for your Sunday inspiration devotions! Have you ever thought of putting them all together in a daily devotion book? It would be so nice to have them all in one place. Thanks again for all you do for us!
What a great message! Thank you for the time and effort you put into your Sunday posts. It is very much appreciated!
Great message, thank you! The struggle is real, and it can be hard to give all over to God at times.
A great message today
I think most of us have things in our lives that didn’t go just as we had planned. Thank you for these reminders from God’s Word that we can let go of the past and trust Him with the future.
What a beautiful and timely devotional, Tania! It definitely spoke to me today. The scriptures were so relevant, and the prayer could have been meant for me. Thank you.
Thank you I needed to read this so much.
Thank you, Tania. This message was hard to hear this morning because we have found it necessary to leave our life long denomination because of the direction it has chosen to go. I am struggling to leave it behind and find the place God has for us now. I will look at the future with renewed faith and hope after this.
I’m working on moving forward and so very grateful that I am not meant to carry my burdens alone. Thank you for this profound message.
You have such a beautiful way of helping us see things in a way that was not obvious to us. Also reminding us that God knows best. Thank you❤️
Thanks, Terry. That is kind of you to say.
I really needed to hear this today. Thank you!
Hi Tania, Great prayer, Have a Blessed year!
Woah, was that just for me today?? I have been hurt and cut out of my sister-in-law’s life, and have never been allowed to know WHY. For years I have prayed about this and just could not “get on with it.” Thank you God, for using Tania to deliver this message to me in plain English today!
It is hard to let go when someone we love cuts us out of their life. I’ve had that happen to me too, and it took years to let it go.
Thanks for your post today.
Blessings always
Your message is exactly what I needed to hear today I just experienced this it was so hard to dust off my feet and take a leap of faith but I know my Lord and Savior has my back and has the answers so I have to trust I did the right thing. Thanks for your message.
Excellent verse!! I need to remind myself of this more often. Thank you, Tania!
I praise God for you.
Wonderful lesson.
Tania, help! for some reason I have not been getting your daily emails. This happened a few years ago, I was getting your daily emails then all of the sudden stopped. I did go to your website a few days ago and subscribed, it said I would be getting an email and I have not received any email.
The only way I can currently read your blog is by going through your website. I so enjoy starting my day with your email!
Thank You for your help
Kristine, it is probably going to your junk or spam folder. Search for Tania@50isnotold.com since that is the email address I use for the emails. I’ll go in and check out your subscription and see what it tells me.
Kristine, I checked your status and it says you are active and the last time you were active was the 18th. Let me know if you don’t get the email tomorrow.
Tania,
Yeah! I did get my email this morning. I Checked and there were not any emails in junk.
Perfect! Make sure you always open and click on something in the email. That tells your emails provider that you want to continue getting the emails.
I was teaching my ladies Bible class today. I used part of your devotional in my lesson. I gave you credit!
A friend once said- “It’s time to sing Frozen!” Let it go, let it go……
I really needed these words and your message TODAY! Thank you!! 🙏
Amen. Tonight I will physically shake the dust off my feet and move on. Praise be to God.
That’s just what I needed to hear. Have a blessed week!
Beautiful message!!!
Great new year message!
This is a reminder for me . It is very hard to let go and let God but it is what we should all do. He knows what’s best for us, we just have to seek and listen to Him!
Oh wow Tania. Your timing! I received some potentially bad medical news yesterday. And just that-potentially. Something to watch. But I started going down the rabbit hole. Thank you for reminding me to TRUST and LET GO!
I’m blessed to have read your daily writing, humor, and inspiration! Keep it coming. I still enjoy my R+F products too … wish you would advertise it more on your site, but perhaps it is a conflict of biz interest ruling. Have a blessed week
Regina, I still use it too, but I just got away from promoting it. I get so much other skincare to try and review that it makes it hard to talk about.
I always look forward to your Sunday messages. Can’t wait to “shake the dust off my feet” when I write in my gratitude journal at bedtime tonight. 😊
Wonderful thoughts to start my week. I return to a part time position in a surgery center where I once held a leadership position. Focusing on being a supportive staff member!
Such good advice! And oh! so hard to do. Thanks for your insight and it’s always comforting to know that I’m not the only one who deals with these things. One part of my affirmation is “I will enjoy my life and trust that God is in control of everything that concerns me and my family” but I still find it hard to do. However, I do go around mumbling under my breath sometimes that “God is in control”, “God is in control”.
Mumbling and grumbling does more good than you think. Praising him through tears is still praise.
I needed this today struggling with a friendship ending.thanks
Tania, this is beautiful AND powerful! I am not in favor of holding a grudge…it only hurts me! Thank you for your beautiful words 🙏🏻❤️🙏🏻
Thank you for such an encouraging message!
This is a message that I needed to read today, so Thank You! This is something that is easier said than done, but I know that doing it is so much healthier for me/us. Have a blessed day!
You know, I look at the clothing suggestions, plus extra thoughts you offer, but my favorite part of your blog is your Sunday “sermon”. All the ways you remind us to live the way Jesus wants us to live. Thanks for continuing to direct my thoughts where they should be. And hopefully, my actions, too.
Tania, Great choice of words today, as this is so apparent in our everyday living.
Especially since we find it difficult at times to move forward in these types of situations. You always seem to know what to talk about each Sunday, and I love reading them! Happy Sunday!!!😊
Love this post. Thank you.
I needed this more than could have imagined! Having recently gone through a traumatic situation, I find that I am having trouble letting go and trusting that God does have my back and with his guidance I will be ok. Thank you for this powerful reminder to shake the dust off.
What a wonderful post! Truly inspiring. Thank you.
Very well said and explained!
Amen! Very well said and explained!
Love the prayer and the message of letting go. This passage is also about if you present the Gospel to someone and they reject just it move on. You did your part as a disciple. God will do the rest.
I needed this message! I am going to save your beautiful prayer! I am so guilty of not letting things go & overthinking every situation. Someone said to me once “if you live in the past you will miss your whole life” so true!
This post was so inspirational Tania!! I have held on to disappointments in the past far too long. I have faith God will point me in the right direction and shoulder the burdens I have in my mind. Thank you so much for this today!!
You do not know how much I needed to read this devotional. Thank you
Letting go is hard!
I needed to be reminded of this today…thank you Tania!
What a powerful message this morning! I am going to use this as the second part of my 2025 goals. The first is to level up-in my prayer life, in my health and in my mindset. So shaking off the dust will help me accomplish this!
Have a wonderful week.
I have used this passage many times throughout my life, Tania, and it is so true and helpful in certain situations. Thank you, and happy Sunday!
Thoughtful! Thanks!
Thank you for this, Tania. Timely message, for sure! Have a blessed day!
Perfect timing. I so needed this message right now.
WOW! God certainly used you to put that in black and white for me this morning. There was a situation just this week that has kept me awake. A situation where I felt a family member was hurt (unintentionally) by another family member and I just haven’t been able to stop beating myself up over all the things I might have been able to do to have kept it from happening. Thank you for this good reminder.
One thing I know for sure is that we can’t control family, or anyone else. That is going to be the Lord’s job.
I love this great Truth. I definitely need to leave my worries and my cares at His feet.
What a wonderful message! Amen!
Letting go, it is the precursor to forgiveness. Something I’ve been needing to do for a very long time.
I never knew what that meant either!! I like it. Thank you for those inspiring words.
I’m glad the post was helpful. 🥰️
Thank You.
Needed to read this.
Have a wonderful Sunday.
I’d read that passage many times before, but I never latched onto that “shake the dust off your feet”. How important that is! I sometimes even get memories of past hurts and it’s quite an effort to push them away. I’ll remember this saying!
Once again your words have struck a chord and the timing couldn’t be better! Thank you 😊
I love that verse. The Lord has brought it to mind more than once when my thoughts start heading down that path.
Thank you Tania!
Thank you
Philippians 3:13-14 is my favorite verse . What a great blog (devotional) for me to read first thing this morning when I opened my computer. God is good . Blessings to you and your family.
RAH