Have you ever known it was time to move forward, but part of your heart still wanted to stay?

Maybe it was a relationship, a season of your life, a habit, or the way things used to be. Even when we know something was hurting us, letting go can still be hard.

Sometimes we hold on because it feels familiar. We don’t know what comes next, and that can be scary.

When I think about this, I think about Lot’s wife.

When God Says It’s Time to Go

In Genesis 19, Lot and his family were told to leave Sodom before its destruction. The instruction was clear: escape and don’t look back.

But Lot’s wife looked back, and she became a pillar of salt (Genesis 19:17, 26).

The Bible doesn’t tell us exactly what she was feeling. Was she sad? Afraid? Was she thinking about everything she was leaving behind? We don’t know, and I don’t want to assume.

But her story makes me examine my own heart.

Is there something God is asking me to release that I keep holding on to?

Later, Jesus said, “Remember Lot’s wife” (Luke 17:32). Those few words invite us to take seriously how we respond when God calls us to move.

Sometimes Our Hearts Stay Behind

We can move forward with our lives and still spend so much time thinking about what happened.

We replay conversations. We wonder what we could have done differently. We remember the good moments and begin to forget why we needed a change.

Before we know it, something from yesterday is taking away our peace today.

remembering your past doesn’t mean you have failed. There are people you will always love, moments you will treasure, and experiences that take time to heal from.

But we need to notice when those memories begin making our decisions for us.

You can appreciate what was good, learn from what hurt, and still keep going.

Letting Go Can Be Hard

Sometimes we get so used to carrying something that we don’t even realize how tired we are.

Always trying to please everyone. Feeling responsible for everything. Being so hard on ourselves. Holding on to someone’s words as if they define who we are.

Changing those patterns takes time. We need God’s help, and sometimes we also need support from someone we trust.

We can ask ourselves: What am I still carrying? What needs healing? What small step can I take today?

You don’t have to figure everything out at once. Start with the step you know you need to take.

You Can Move Forward with Tears in Your Eyes

Maybe you know a decision was necessary, but it still hurts. Maybe you miss someone. Maybe you’re accepting that a season of your life is over.

You can have peace about moving forward and still feel sad.

Please don’t be hard on yourself for that. Give yourself time to grieve, to rest, and to receive support.

In Philippians 3:13–14, Paul speaks about pressing forward toward the goal of God’s call in Christ Jesus. His past was part of his story, but he continued following Jesus.

We can do that too, even when our steps feel small.

Keep Your Eyes on Jesus

I don’t know what came to your mind as you read this. Maybe there is something you have been struggling to release for a long time.

You can be honest with God about it. Tell Him that you’re afraid. Tell Him that you miss what you had. Tell Him that you need help.

Then make room to listen to Him through His Word and take the next step He makes clear.

The story of Lot’s wife reminds us to pay attention to God’s instruction. As we remember her, let’s also take time to examine what we are holding on to.

You don’t need to see the whole road today. Keep walking with Jesus, one step at a time.

Look ahead: the same God who sustained you yesterday walks with you today.

For reflection: What am I holding on to from the past that I need to place in God’s hands today?