Sandra Hubbard

I was once a holder. Not a hoarder. Just a woman who struggled to let go.

I kept clothes that didn’t fit. Shoes that hurt my feet. Costume jewelry that’d tarnished. Handbags that’d seen better days.

And that was just my closet. My kitchen, spare bedroom and drawers were jammed with stuff.

I kept the unused, unnecessaries, extras and “just in case”.

It wasn’t just stuff I kept.

I held onto an idea of the woman I thought I should be.. Who others wanted me to be.

I gripped a mindset that kept me stuck. And identities based on a past version of myself.

I kept expectations that disappointed me and emotions, regrets and hurts that hindered me.

All this holding on required energy. I was exhausted from fighting to hold on to what it was time to let go of.

Refining requires release. Fear keeps us holding on.

Letting go can feel scary, confusing or painful. It makes us uncomfortable. And often those around us.

But here’s what I’ve learned.

The longer we hold onto what/who God’s calling us to release, the longer we’ll remain in the refining fire.

Paul tells us to run our race. How? By “throwing off everything” that easily entangles us. Heb 12:1.

Why? Because it trips us up, weighs us down, prolongs our stagnation and prevents us from progress.

What relationships have run their course? What’s in your mental and physical space that’s unnecessary, worn out, broken, faded or just no longer suits your needs or taste?

What beliefs have you carried from childhood that keep you repeating cycles and patterns you’re ready to break free from?

Holding on to what needs to go delays the joy of receiving what God has in store for us.

Our 2026 verse at TLR is “The wise woman builds her house (her life). (Prov 14:1).” It will be the core of all we discuss in the TLR community this year.

Room by room the wise woman refines her life to meet her needs, goals and desires.

She adds, removes and arranges the contents to be aesthetically pleasing. Useful. Functional. Beautiful.

This year we’re going to construct lives we want to reside in not escape from.

Starting with seeking God. Letting Him reveal to us who and what needs to go.

And then and this is the hardest part be willing to let go. Even when it makes no sense. To us. Or others.

Or when it puts our faith in Him to the ultimate test. And some of it will.

There’s an old hymn that says “let go and let God have His wonderful way.”

Your wonderful 2026 begins with letting go and letting God.