Pain has a way of becoming part of your identity when you carry it long enough. The betrayal, the loss, the disappointment, the injustice. You replay it constantly, rehearse the hurt, and build your life around protecting yourself from experiencing it again. The problem is that holding onto pain doesn’t protect you. It poisons you. It keeps you trapped in the past while everyone else moves forward.
Letting go of pain isn’t about pretending it didn’t happen or minimizing what was done to you. It’s not about excusing the person who hurt you or convincing yourself it wasn’t that bad. Letting go is releasing your grip on something that’s destroying you from the inside out. It’s choosing freedom over bitterness, healing over resentment, and trust in God’s justice over your need for revenge.
These verses reveal what Scripture says about releasing pain, finding healing, and trusting God with the wounds that others have inflicted. They show us that letting go isn’t weakness. It’s the pathway to freedom and the prerequisite for genuine healing.
Bible Verses For Letting Go Of Pain
1. Isaiah 43:18-19 – Forget the Former Things
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.
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2. Philippians 3:13-14 – Forgetting What Is Behind
Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. 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.
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3. Matthew 11:28-30 – Come to Me, All Who Are Weary
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.
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4. Psalm 147:3 – He Heals the Brokenhearted
He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.
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5. 1 Peter 5:7 – Cast All Your Anxiety on Him
Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
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6. 2 Corinthians 5:17 – The Old Has Gone, the New Is Here
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!
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7. Ephesians 4:31-32 – Get Rid of All Bitterness
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.
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8. Isaiah 61:3 – A Garment of Praise Instead of a Spirit of Despair
To bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor.
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9. Romans 8:28 – God Works for the Good
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
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10. Hebrews 12:15 – See to It That No Bitter Root Grows Up
See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.
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11. Psalm 34:18 – The Lord Is Close to the Brokenhearted
The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
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12. Matthew 6:14-15 – If You Forgive Others
For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.
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13. Colossians 3:13 – Forgive as the Lord Forgave You
Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
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14. Psalm 55:22 – Cast Your Cares on the Lord
Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken.
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15. Romans 12:19 – Do Not Take Revenge
Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.
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16. Jeremiah 30:17 – I Will Restore You to Health
But I will restore you to health and heal your wounds, declares the Lord.
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17. Lamentations 3:22-23 – His Compassions Never Fail
Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
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18. Proverbs 4:23 – Guard Your Heart
Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.
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19. Isaiah 53:5 – By His Wounds We Are Healed
But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.
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20. Psalm 30:11 – You Turned My Wailing Into Dancing
You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy.
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21. Luke 6:37 – Forgive, and You Will Be Forgiven
Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.
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22. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 – The God of All Comfort
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.
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23. Psalm 103:12 – As Far as the East Is From the West
As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
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24. Isaiah 41:10 – Do Not Fear, for I Am With You
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
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25. Philippians 4:6-7 – Do Not Be Anxious About Anything
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
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26. Psalm 23:4 – Your Rod and Your Staff Comfort Me
Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
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27. Romans 8:18 – Our Present Sufferings Are Not Worth Comparing
I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.
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28. Revelation 21:4 – He Will Wipe Every Tear
He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.
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29. Psalm 126:5-6 – Those Who Sow With Tears
Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy. Those who go out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with them.
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30. Mark 11:25 – When You Stand Praying, Forgive
And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.
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31. Joel 2:25 – I Will Repay You for the Years the Locusts Have Eaten
I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten—the great locust and the young locust, the other locusts and the locust swarm—my great army that I sent among you.
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32. Psalm 51:17 – A Broken and Contrite Heart
My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise.
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33. 1 John 1:9 – He Is Faithful and Just to Forgive
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
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34. Proverbs 3:5-6 – Trust in the Lord With All Your Heart
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.
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35. 2 Timothy 1:7 – God Has Not Given Us a Spirit of Fear
For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.
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Our Thoughts On What the Bible Says About Letting Go Of Pain
Letting go of pain is one of the hardest things you’ll ever do because it feels like betraying yourself or excusing what happened. But holding onto pain doesn’t hurt the person who caused it. It only destroys you. Bitterness is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die. God calls us to release our grip on past hurts, not because they didn’t matter, but because He knows they’ll consume us if we don’t.
Scripture is clear that forgiveness and letting go aren’t optional extras for super spiritual people. They’re essential for anyone who wants to be free. When you refuse to forgive or release pain, you chain yourself to the person who hurt you. You give them ongoing power over your emotions, your peace, and your future. Letting go breaks that chain and hands the situation over to God, who promises to handle justice far better than you ever could.
God is close to the brokenhearted, and He heals wounds. But healing requires surrender. You have to be willing to cast your pain on Him, trust Him with justice, and choose freedom over resentment.
Say This Prayer
Heavenly Father, I’m tired of carrying this pain. I’ve held onto hurt, rehearsed betrayal, and let bitterness take root in my heart. Forgive me for choosing resentment over freedom and for believing that holding onto pain somehow protects me or serves justice.
I choose to let go. I release this hurt, this betrayal, this disappointment into Your hands. I trust You to handle justice far better than I ever could. Help me to forgive those who’ve wounded me, not because they deserve it but because I need to be free.
Heal my broken heart. Bind up my wounds. Remove the bitter root that’s been poisoning my soul and restore joy where there’s been mourning. Help me to stop dwelling on the past and to embrace the new thing You’re doing in my life.
Give me the strength to walk in freedom, to guard my heart without becoming hardened, and to trust You with what I’m releasing. Thank You that You’re close to the brokenhearted and that healing is possible with You.
In Jesus’ healing Name, Amen.
Evang. Anabelle Thompson is the founder of Believers Refuge, a Scripture-based resource that helps Christians to find biblical guidance for life’s challenges.
With over 15 years of ministry experience and a decade of dedicated Bible study, she creates content that connects believers with relevant Scripture for their daily struggles.
Her work has reached over 76,000 monthly readers (which is projected to reach 100,000 readers by the end of 2025) seeking practical faith applications, biblical encouragement, and spiritual guidance rooted in God’s Word.
She writes from personal experience, having walked through seasons of waiting, breakthrough, and spiritual growth that inform her teaching.
Evang. Thompson brings 12 years of active ministry and evangelism experience, along with over 10 years of systematic Bible study and theological research.
As a former small group leader and Sunday school teacher, she has published over 200 biblical resources and devotional studies.
She specializes in applying Scripture to everyday life challenges and regularly studies the original Hebrew and Greek texts for a deeper biblical understanding.