Autumn is a season of shedding. For a few weeks every fall, many areas of the country enjoy a colorful landscape dotted with russet oaks, red-orange maples, or golden aspens.

But the beautiful foliage doesn’t last forever. Soon the time comes for the trees to release their leaves—whether they waft gently to the ground, or they’re blown away suddenly by strong winds.

Interestingly, these trees don’t need their leaves anymore. They are preparing for winter, aiming to conserve water and energy for the days ahead.

The good news is that despite the loss of leaves, we have confident hope and anticipation of new growth, when bare-limbed trees will sprout fresh, green leaves in springtime.

The same can be true in our own lives.

There are seasons to “shed” or get rid of things that no longer benefit us.

What are some things you need to release in your life? What needs to go?

Years ago, I was recovering from a horrible breakup and I could not seem to let go. I was holding on to “what was” and “what could have been.” I was hurt and angry about how poorly my boyfriend treated me when we ended things, so I was grappling with forgiving him.

I felt as if I was holding onto the past so firmly, like a tight fist, and our loving Lord was prying it away one finger at a time.

Then, one winter day while walking in a nearby park, I came upon some scrub oak trees. Surprisingly, some of the branches still had leaves clinging to them—but they were dried up, crunchy and brown.

It was wintertime. Their season had passed, yet still they clung to the trees.

I stopped in my tracks as I realized that I was just like those tenacious oak leaves. My season with this guy had passed, yet I still hung on.

How could I let go?

I wasn’t able to do it on my own. I’d tried for months.

Suddenly, a strong wind blew and carried dozens of leaves off the scrub oaks in front of me. And in that moment I knew that the strength I needed to let go would never come from my own limited abilities.

I needed the power of God to blow strong winds of change in my life—to release my grip on the past and drive away the lingering sadness.

And He did.

God helped me to forgive the person who had hurt me so greatly. It wasn’t easy, but it was possible. And I was finally able to move on with freedom and peace.

Whether you need to let go of a person, the past, or something else, you can choose to be free and find joy again.

Maybe you need to shed fear and doubt. Perhaps you want to release worry, anxiety, or negativity, and find relief.

Or maybe, like me, you need to walk away from the misery of a breakup or another loss, and move forward into renewed hope and joy.

When you let go and give your worries to God, you can trust that He will take care of whatever you’re holding on to so tightly. You can always rely on Him.

God loves you—more than you could ever comprehend. He is wise. He is good. And He will be faithful to work all things together for His good purposes, as we are reminded in Romans 8:28.

Here is one of my favorite verses that’s helped me through many of life’s hardships:  

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart,

and do not lean on your own understanding.

In all your ways acknowledge him,

and he will make your paths straight.”

Proverbs 3:5-6

Trust in the Lord, not people or circumstances. Not feelings or emotions. Why? Because we may not have a full understanding of the situation. God knows what we don’t know. And He has the ability to guide us, and change our situation—no matter how difficult it may seem.

When we look at what’s happening around us, we tend to sink into fear and doubt. Yet, when we look to the Lord, we stand strong in His mighty power.

Think about what you need to release in your life. What do you need to shed in order to make room for new growth, or perhaps something better? Then ask God to help you. And choose to trust Him every step of the way.

This is the season of shedding. Let it go.

It’s time.

Jackie M. Johnson is an author and blogger who writes inspiring content on growing a better life, the power of prayer, and encouragement for singles. Jackie has a heart to encourage single adults of all ages, and she has led numerous small groups and Bible studies for singles. Her books include the breakup recovery guide, When Love Ends and the Ice Cream Carton Is Empty, Power Prayers for Women, and Praying with Power When Life Gets Tough. Connect with Jackie at JackieJohnsonCreative.com.