35 Helpful Bible Verses About Letting Go of the Past

Use these Bible verses about letting go of the past as a guide for your healing journey, for comfort, and for guidance as you move forward from all painful memories.

Letting go of the past can be one of the hardest things that you will face in your entire life. For many of us, our past feels like a load of baggage that weighs us down and keeps us from moving forward at the pace or even in the direction that we’d like. It can be a difficult uphill climb. If you relate to this, you aren’t alone in the struggle of letting go of the past.

We empathize with what you’re going through, and, today, we want to point you toward these 35 Bible verses about letting go of the past. Especially when you feel as though the road is extra rough at times, these Bible verses can offer you solace from the hardship. They can give you the hope and the guidance that you need in difficult times. 

Bible Verses About Letting Go of the Past

Scriptures on Leaving Behind Former Things and Embracing God’s Will

1. Philippians 3:13-14 – Forget 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.”
– Philippians 3:13-14

2. 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.”
– Isaiah 43:18-19

3. Romans 12:2 – Be Transformed By Renewing Your Mind

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world,
but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.
Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—
His good, pleasing, and perfect will.”
– Romans 12:2

4. Ephesians 4:22-24 – Put Off the Old Self

“You were taught, with regard to your former way of life,
to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires;
to be made new in the attitude of your minds;
and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.”
– Ephesians 4:22-24

5. Proverbs 3:5-6 – Trust In God

“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.”
– Proverbs 3:5-6

Scriptures on Trusting God’s Plan – Why Relying on Your Own Understanding Falls Short

6. Proverbs 3:7-8 – Fear the Lord First

“Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil.
This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.”
– Proverbs 3:7-8

7. Isaiah 55:8-9 – God’s Ways Are Higher Than Yours

“‘For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,’ declares the Lord. ‘
As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.’”
– Isaiah 55:8-9

8. Proverbs 28:26 – Do Not Trust in Yourself

“Those who trust in themselves are fools,
but those who walk in wisdom are kept safe.”
– Proverbs 28:26

9. Jeremiah 17:9 – Your Heart Is Deceitful

“The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure.
Who can understand it?” –
Jeremiah 17:9

10. 1 Corinthians 1:25 – Human Wisdom Is Foolishness

“For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom,
and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.”
– 1 Corinthians 1:25

Bible Verses About Letting Go of Past Hurts and Negative Emotions

11. Ephesians 4:31-32 – Get Rid of Bitterness and Forgive

“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.”
– Ephesians 4:31-32

12. 2 Corinthians 5:17 – You Are a New Creation

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come:
The old has gone, the new is here!”
– 2 Corinthians 5:17

13. Colossians 3:13-14 – You Have Been Rescued and Forgiven

“For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness
and brought us into the kingdom of the Son He loves,
in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”
– Colossians 3:13-14

14. 1 John 1:9 – God Is Faithful to Forgive

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just
and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”
– 1 John 1:9

15. Matthew 6:14-15 – Forgive Others and Be Forgiven

“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.”
– Matthew 6:14-15

Scriptures on Developing a Pure Heart During Present Sufferings 

16. Psalm 34:18 – The Lord Is Close to You

“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted
and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”
– Psalm 34:18

17. Romans 5:3-5 – Glory in Your Sufferings

“Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings,
because we know that suffering produces perseverance;
perseverance, character; and character, hope.
And hope does not put us to shame,
because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts
through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.”
– Romans 5:3-5

18. 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 – Be Renewed Inwardly Daily

“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away,
yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.
For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us
an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.
So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen,
since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”
– 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

19. James 1:2-4 – Consider Trials Pure Joy

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,
whenever you face trials of many kinds,
because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.
Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be
mature and complete, not lacking anything.”
– James 1:2-4

20. 1 Peter 4:12-13 – Don’t Be Surprised by Trials

“Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal
that has come on you to test you,
as though something strange were happening to you.
But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ,
so that you may be overjoyed when His glory is revealed.”
– 1 Peter 4:12-13

Scriptures on Experiencing Perfect Peace and the Power of Forgiveness 

21. Isaiah 26:3 – Trust in God

“You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast,
because they trust in You.”
– Isaiah 26:3

22. Philippians 4:6-7 – Lift Up Everything to God

“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.”
– Philippians 4:6-7

23. Romans 12:1 – Offer Yourself as a Living Sacrifice

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy,
to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—
this is your true and proper worship.”
– Romans 12:1

24. Isaiah 41:10 – Do Not Fear, He Is 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.”
– Isaiah 41:10

25. John 14:27 – Jesus Gives You Peace

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.
I do not give to you as the world gives.
Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”
– John 14:27

Scriptures on Receiving and Sharing God’s Grace – Loving Like Jesus

26. Ephesians 2:8-9 – God Saved You By His Grace

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—
and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—
not by works, so that no one can boast.”
– Ephesians 2:8-9

27. 2 Corinthians 12:9 – God’s Grace Is Sufficient

“But He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you,
for my power is made perfect in weakness.’
Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses,
so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”
– 2 Corinthians 12:9

28. James 4:6 – God Opposes the Proud

“But He gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says:
‘God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.’”
– James 4:6

29. 1 Peter 4:10 – Be a Faithful Steward of Grace

“Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others,
as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.”
– 1 Peter 4:10

30. 2 Timothy 2:1 – Be Strong in Christ’s Grace

“You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.”
– 2 Timothy 2:1

Scriptures on Learning to See Things of the Past from Eternal Perspective

31. 2 Corinthians 4:17-18 – Look to the Eternal

“For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us
an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.
So we fix our eyes not on what is seen,
but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary,
but what is unseen is eternal.”
– 2 Corinthians 4:17-18

32. Romans 8:28 – All Things Work Out for 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.”
– Romans 8:28

33. Philippians 1:4-6 – Jesus Will Complete His Work in You

“In all my prayers for all of you,
I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel
from the first day until now, being confident of this,
that he who began a good work in you will carry it on
to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 1:4-6

34. Colossians 3:2 – Set Your Mind on the Eternal

“Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.”
– Colossians 3:2

35. Galatians 6:8 – Sow to Please the Spirit

“Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction;
whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.”
– Galatians 6:8

More Bible Verses for Encouragement

37 Bible Verses About Tears and Crying
30 Bible Verses About Perspective
30 Bible Verses On Anxiety & Worries
32 Bible Verses about Joy in the Hard Times 
33 Bible Verses for Discouragement 
25 Bible Verses for Hard Times